By: Fern Sidman
Summer vacation on the Jersey Shore evokes visions of lazy days relaxing on the white, sandy beaches that adorn the Atlantic coastline, backyard barb-b-ques, spending time with loved ones and just enjoying the inherent beauty of life. For residents of the pristine town of Deal, New Jersey, however, it appears that their pleasant summer getaway has been abruptly interrupted by a string of auto thefts that have plagued this quiet haven of peace and tranquility since the official beginning of the summer season.
In a June 27th report that appeared on the Yeshiva World News web site, it stated, “Over the past few nights, the Deal, NJ, community has been hit by a rash of vehicle thefts. In the attached video, the viewer can see a male suspect in a black mask with a grey hoodie and white gloves. He is seen taking a Porsche SUV. Other vehicles stolen included a Range Rover and an Audi. Police are asking anyone with information to please contact them.”
On July 18th, Yeshiva World News ran a press release from the Deal, NJ police department which stated:
“Over the past week we have AGAIN taken reports for multiple stolen vehicles. Every single vehicle was left unlocked with the keys inside. This is gross negligence on the part of the vehicle owner. Our officers have been involved in multiple attempts to stop the vehicle thefts from occurring. There is absolutely no excuse for this. Our officers have been placed in very dangerous situations because our residents refuse to LOCK their vehicles.
With repeated alerts through social media, Nixle, reverse 911 alerts and our officers speaking directly with our residents, it still seems to be falling on deaf ears. In some instances, doors were left wide open with the vehicle running.
YOU continue to invite a criminal element into our community due to your behavior. You must LOCK your vehicles and remove the keys and key fobs. These criminals are well aware that your vehicles are unlocked and you leave the keys inside. Without your cooperation and due diligence this problem will only get worse. LOCK YOUR CARS!”
According to Ronen Neuman, the Chief of Police of Deal, New Jersey, who spoke to the Jewish Voice in an exclusive interview last week, “When residents of the Deal community do not lock their car doors or take common sense preventative methods of protecting their vehicle from theft, then word spreads like wildfire among care thieves that Deal represents a lucrative opportunity to steal a high end, really expensive car.”
Chief Neuman, who has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement said, “people come to Deal from neighboring towns as they know that unlocked and unsecured vehicles are an easy target for theft. If we want to preserve the town of Deal as a safe and beautiful summer vacation venue, then we cannot do anything that would attract a criminal element to our community and we must all be mindful of that.”
Grasping the need to “get ahead” of this issue before it spirals out of control, Chief Neuman said, “The Deal police force has been very pro-active on this matter. We have personally gone to the local synagogues, spoken to congregants and residents, and used social media to warn residents about locking their vehicles. The good news is that the number of car thefts has significantly diminished in the last week and a half and that proves that we are getting the message out in the most effective manner possible.”
Fighting crime and protecting the Deal community is Chief Neuman’s raison d’etre. As a veteran law enforcement official with an incredibly impressive record, Chief Ronen told the Jewish Voice that he and his dedicated team of fellow police officers have received extensive training in the realm of tackling and confronting terrorist threats with professionals from the Department of Homeland Security.
“We have received responsiveness training in active shooter scenarios in our community and we have worked with law enforcement officials in other municipalities as well. We have also received high level briefings from government agencies, studied the infrastructure of our community and neighboring communities, and have interacted with the prosecutor’s office on a number of critical topics,” said Chief Neuman.
“Because we want genuine peace and safety to be the top priorities in Deal, we have focused our efforts on providing the highest level of security for synagogues, churches, and schools in our area, “ said Chief Neuman.
During Chief Neuman’s tenure with the police department he implemented and supervised the Field Training Program and was essential to its success. This program enables new officers to be properly trained and equipped to handle the rigors of their respective law enforcement careers. Chief Neuman was also responsible for creating the departments manual for the Chiefs of Police National Law Enforcement Challenge, in which the Deal Police Department has won first or second place on a consistent basis.
Chief Neuman recently oversaw the Deal Police Departments Re-Accreditation process for the second time under the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association. This process will enable the Deal Police Department to remain the leader among police departments. Chief Neuman is also currently serving as the Office of Emergency Management Coordinator for Deal and Interlaken.
The Deal Police Department has been at the forefront of promoting shared services on the Jersey Shore. Chief Neuman has been essential in developing and maintaining the shared service contracts and will continue to ensure the Deal Police Department provides their residents with the personal and professional service they expect and deserve.
