Camden police ask for tips in ATV crackdown

Following their commitment to rid Camden streets of reckless and illegal all-terrain vehicles that are "terrorizing the city and destroying public spaces," police confiscated an additional 11 dirt bikes and ATVs Sunday, Police Chief John Thomson said.

That makes more than 75 vehicles this year.

The mass confiscation took place after police followed a parade of up to six ATVs to the 100 block of North 27th Street, where the vehicles were being kept behind a house, he said.

The citywide crackdown on the illegal use of ATVs within city limits is part of a campaign launched in late May after Camden residents expressed their annoyance over the joyriders' lack of respect for their city.

"Accidents have occurred and parks where Little League games are held are being torn up because of this," Thomson said.

In addition to a team effort between the Camden Police Department and the District Collaborative Council Board, Thomson said the community needs to come together to end the ruckus once and for all.

"We [police] don't pursue these vehicles because they go from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in three seconds, and we don't want to make a bad situation worse," he said. "It's the community members who know where these things are being stored and know who's riding them because, let's face it, these things are not quiet."

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the DCCB at Camdendccb.org.