Garden State Times

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) that would upgrade penalties for residential home burglaries was passed by the New Jersey Senate.

"Law enforcement personnel have expressed an urgent need to pass legislation to combat the troubling wave of residential home burglaries spreading across New Jersey. This legislation would help provide law enforcement and prosecutors with the necessary tools to hold bad actors accountable and ensure safety within our communities," said Sen. Bucco. "By enforcing stricter penalties, we're sending a clear message that individuals who burglarize homes or engage in other associated criminal activities will face severe consequences."

“Prosecutor Carroll and I both know the impact of a home burglary on the crime victim is traumatic and it has lasting effects; it is a violation of a person’s very security. That is why we each testified to that sentiment, before the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee, two weeks ago. After such an intrusion, a person’s home no longer feels like a safe haven because their personal privacy has been violated, their sanctuary is destroyed. Most importantly, such encounters can be deadly. The devastation can be enormous and life-impacting. Many victims feel the need to leave their homes and move away after such an invasion. It is our responsibility as law enforcement professionals to diligently protect our citizens, investigate crimes, capture, and prosecute these offenders, and it is the legislature’s duty to help us deter such harm. I applaud our Senate, particularly Senator Anthony Bucco, for coming together with us to enhance the penalties associated with the crime of residential burglaries. This change is supported by the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey (SANJ), the County Prosecutor’s Association of New Jersey (CPANJ), and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP). It is a great step in making positive changes for the benefit of crime victims. Ultimately, when this becomes law, Prosecutor Carroll and I believe we will see a measurable difference in the safety and security of our communities.”

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said, “Morris County and New Jersey at large have experienced an onslaught of car thefts, which have now escalated to residential burglaries at homes that are often occupied by criminals looking for key fobs or other valuables. This creates the potential for dangerous confrontations both for the burglar and residents as some criminals have been arrested with firearms. My Office has heard from members of the public at recent Town Hall meetings and from our municipal police chiefs that this trend has eroded residents’ sense of security in their homes. In Morris County, we have successfully reduced car thefts using Automated License Plate Readers and close cooperation between our municipal police, state, and federal partners. But we need more legislation like this to enhance penalties not only to punish offenders but also to deter recruitment of juveniles into criminal organizations—a serious problem. We do not want our teenagers drawn into criminal networks by fast cash allurements. Legislation in this narrow area would deter career criminals recruiting juveniles.”

Under current law, “burglary” makes no distinction between crimes committed at residences versus commercial or non-residential buildings.

Senator Bucco's bill S-3006 would enhance criminal penalties for residential burglaries through two new offenses: “residential burglary” constituting a second-degree crime carrying heightened penalties with a presumption of incarceration; “home invasion burglary” applying when offenders commit residential burglary with deadly weapons or inflict/attempt/threaten bodily injury during burglary—constituting first-degree crime carrying even greater penalties.

You can read the full version of the bill here.