State officials have unveiled new crime statistics for 2024 in New Jersey.

It comes as Montclair police investigate a pair of car thefts early Monday morning. In all, three BMWs were stolen.

While it is an alarming start to the new year, state officials say that violent crimes, like car thefts and shootings, are actually down statewide.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced there has been an 11% decrease in auto thefts and the state’s lowest recorded number of shootings since the state began tracking the numbers in 2009.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin says that car theft numbers are the lowest in three years – with more than 2,000 fewer thefts in 2024 than in 2023.

Regarding the shooting stats - the 778 shooting victims in 2024 is a 16% drop from 2023. About 1 in 5 was fatal.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General says the statewide trend persists in some of the state’s biggest cities.

“Paterson saw a 4% decrease in shooting victims. Cities like Elizabeth - where Chief [Giacomo] Sacca leveraged technology to help his department realize a 55% reduction in shooting victims - and Newark, our largest city, where we saw a 15% reduction,” said First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo.

Officials pointed to stronger criminal penalties for break-ins and community-based police programs to explain improvement.