The Mantua police department is taking a harder stance on crime – specifically retail theft – in response to increased calls from the township’s four major retailers.
Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Kohl’s have all been battling theft, a crime that has also increased nationwide. As a result, township police consulted with other law-enforcement agencies to create a special task force.
“With the help of Det. Sergeant (Robert) Layton, we kind of come up with an initiative to combat our retail-theft issues … ” explained Lt. Brian Hauss. “In the beginning of 2023, (Layton) took it upon himself to get in touch with loss prevention agents, as well as a conglomerate of detective bureaus throughout Gloucester County and Camden County, to develop a retail theft task force.”
Mantua police – including an increasing number of younger officers – have consulted the affected stores on ways they can team to prevent theft and recover merchandise, including a meeting with Lowe’s employees on July 12. According to Hauss, police reported 19 shopliftings last December, 17 of which resulted in charges.
“What we’re doing is allowing some of our younger officers, newer officers, to partake in different information sharing meetings, different task forces,” Layton noted. “We’re trying to combat the crimes head on.”
According to Mayor Robert Zimmerman, the Mantua department got more than 20,000 calls last year. Despite the high number, police proactiveness was up 33% compared with 2022, he said, with seven new officers hired in 2023.
“It is certainly validating the assertiveness of the police department’s services under the young administration and staffing,” he emphasized. “Our police department has done a phenomenal job arresting the vast majority of those committing these types of criminal acts. Our township committee has always stood with law enforcement and provided the necessary resources to get the job done.”
Despite the thefts, the township has assured residents that it is a safe place to live, and that safety is always a priority.
“Safety of our community will always remain paramount,” Zimmerman said. “We live in a very safe township, and it will remain that way.”
