Lawrence Twp. Swatting Incident Points to Growing Trend

A new phenomenon known as “swatting” has taken New Jersey by storm, as individuals are increasingly making false reports about explosives and other threats to security in schools, shopping malls, and other public places.

Swatting is the moniker now used to refer to these incidents, which have compelled authorities in counties across the state to respond to suspected bomb threats that have no foundation.

In a recent incident, officials responded to a report at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township, only to find that there was nothing out of the ordinary. Patrons were readmitted into the mall after an extensive search was conducted with the assistance of Mercer County’s K-9 Unit.

As a response to this ongoing and increasingly problematic trend, the New Jersey legislature is considering adopting new legislation to address swatting directly. This new law would punish swatting offenses with a 5 to 10-year prison term and a fine of up to $150,000. Clearly, the State takes these offenses very seriously and lawmakers may implement statutory provisions to severely punish those convicted of these offenses.

For additional information regarding this matter, access the following article: Fake bomb threats reported at malls in Lawrence, Paramus