Juveniles charged in historic district

EAST BRUNSWICK — Police arrested four juveniles from the township for allegedly committing acts of vandalism in the town’s historic district.

Residents of the Historic Village of Old Bridge told police in September that there was an ongoing problem with criminal mischief in the area, including eggs being thrown at houses, as well as thefts and disorderly conduct. The complainants said they believed local youngsters were committing the crimes.

East Brunswick Police Detective Sean Goggins and Detective Martin O’Neill were assigned to investigate the complaints and spent a considerable amount of time in the neighborhood, speaking with the residents in an attempt to gain some leads, police said.

Last week, their investigation culminated in the arrests of four juveniles. The suspects were all males, ages 11, 12, 13 and 14, and lived in the areas of Main and Pine streets and River Road. The detectives signed juvenile complaints against the four in connection with the theft of three cases of soda, valued at $25, from the Nativity of Our Lord’s Church on Chestnut Street. Juvenile complaints were also signed against three of the same juveniles for allegedly spray-painting graffiti on the Crandall School, which is in the same neighborhood.

The parents of the involved juveniles were made aware of the investigation while the complaints were pending. Following their arrests, the juveniles were released to the custody of their parents.