to more than 40 incidents
Task force charge 2
in string of burglaries
Suspects may be linked
to more than 40 incidents
By charles w. kim
Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Two men have been jailed in a string of burglaries that may reach into 10 Middlesex County towns, according to police.
A task force of several Middlesex County law enforcement agencies culminated a four-week investigation into a series of burglaries with the arrest of Kumba Davis, 29, of North Brunswick and Devonne Savage, 29, of New Brunswick.
Both men were arrested early in the morning on March 27, Davis at a storage facility in Edison and Savage at his home, according to police.
Police said that officers from the task force had been running surveillance on the two men for some time and were able to connect the men to two burglaries in South Brunswick last week.
Detective James Kinard, lead investigator from the South Brunswick Police Department, said, "We believe these two may be responsible for as many as 40 burglaries in Middlesex County. In South Brunswick, we have been able to link the men to five burglaries since December."
Detective Tom Lasik, lead investigator from the Edison Township Police Department, said, "Both men have been connected to five residential burglaries in Edison."
Police believe that the suspects gained entry to the homes by smashing rear sliding-glass doors or prying open front doors. Once inside, the suspects went to the master bedroom and stole jewelry and cash. Many of the items that were stolen were quickly sold, according to police.
The task force comprised detectives from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and officers from the North Brunswick, East Brunswick, Metuchen, Piscataway, Highland Park, Monroe, Edison, and South Brunswick police departments.
South Brunswick Police Chief Michael D. Paquette credited the cooperation of all the agencies involved with its successful conclusion.
Paquette said, "Criminals have to realize that you cannot cross township boundaries and expect to slip away. The collective effort of these officers halted this crime spree."
Both men were lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $25,000 bail. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected, according to police.