Thieves steal commercial vehicle E-ZPASS transponders, racking up thousands in fraudulent charges
North Brunswick police are trying to track down those criminals as they target commercial trucking companies and even school districts.
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First, thieves came for your cars. Now they want your E-ZPASS transponders.
North Brunswick police are trying to track down those criminals as they target commercial trucking companies and even school districts.
Pat Pinizzotto says she has no idea how two E-ZPASS transponders were stolen right out of two of their commercial trucks. She runs North Brunswick Construction Materials. Her stolen units are just two of potentially dozens or hundreds already swiped and swapped.
“Somebody got into our trucks, took our good transponders, replaced them with not good transponders, and went on their merry way,” she said. “My statement from E-ZPASS came in. It was normally $400, but instead it was $2,600.”
Pinizzotto called North Brunswick police and then tried to recoup her money from E-ZPASS.
“I went down there at 7 a.m. in Newark this morning. They were very helpful. They can’t tell me if I am getting my money back, but they’re very helpful,” she said.
“What we’re asking people to do is check and make sure your E-ZPASS is still there and do an audit and make sure it’s your E-ZPASS and not one that was put there in place,” said North Brunswick Police Deputy Chief Brian Hoiberg.
It’s become a statewide problem, says Hoiberg. Thieves are using the stolen transponders during other crimes like robberies and burglaries.
“To get across bridges, tolls, and highways without being detected,” said the deputy chief.
By the time the thieves targeted the North Brunswick School District, police say they knew what they were doing, swapping out good E-ZPASS readers for stolen ones in a couple of school buses, racking up charges totaling more than $6,000.
“Bring your E-ZPASS in with you at night. If you’re a commercial establishment, lock those passes down,” said E-ZPASS.
Pinizzotto’s company can afford to eat the $2,600, but she worries about owners/drivers and others who aren’t in her position because police say there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back and may still be on the hook for the stolen charges.
“It’s ingenious, but they got us for a lot of money,” said Pinizzotto.
