By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
A Union Beach resident was arrested in East Brunswick Friday and charged with burglaries committed in that township and in South River.
Police said Joseph Kopitskie, 32, entered the basement window of a home on Main Street in South River, and was discovered by the resident when she arrived home at about 2:47 p.m. The suspect then fled on foot, while the victim notified the police, who were unable to locate the suspect at that time, according to South River Police Sgt. John Casey.
Police were notified that a man was walking around the yard of a residence on Joseph Street in East Brunswick later at 6:09 p.m. Police noted that the description of the suspect matched that of the man who burglarized the South River home, police reported.
Police said Kopitskie had already entered the house on Joseph Street when East Brunswick Patrolman Michael Plaskon arrived on the scene. Police said Kopitskie had entered the home through the basement doors and had entered a bedroom, where he encountered the homeowner, police reported. The suspect allegedly told the homeowner that he was looking for someone who lived there. The resident attempted to get the suspect out of the house when Plaskon arrived and made the arrest.
Kopitskie had in his possession latex gloves, as well as a ring, watch, bracelet, and passport that he had allegedly taken from the South River residence, police said.
East Brunswick police charged Kopitskie with burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of a hypodermic syringe. South River police charged him with burglary, Casey said.
The suspect’s bail was set at $50,000 for each municipality, and he was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick, where he was still being held Tuesday, according to Casey.
Police said Kopitskie is a suspect in six other burglaries that were reported in South River during recent months, Casey said.
Casey said the suspect dropped a small jewelry box in the Main Street home before he fled that did not belong to the homeowner. The police were uncertain where the jewelry box was taken from, he said.

