Three men seen in the early morning of June 15 with metal sticking out from backpacks have been charged with theft of audio units from ADESA Auto Auction.
Charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief, all in the third degree, were Kenneth J. Wiles, 21, of Old York Road, Bridgewater Township; Sean M. Niles, 24, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Joseph S. Hegyi, 22 of West Main Street, Somerville.
Police said that at about 1:15 a.m. a Manville patrol officer saw three men walking over the Van Veghten bridge on North Main Street. The men were dressed in dark clothing and two were carrying what police said were large overstuffed backpacks with metal objects protruding. The officer also said the men’s clothing were also covered in mud.
Police said the initial investigation revealed that the backpacks contained eight Chrysler satellite radio/DVD/navigation units valued at about $2,000 each. A further search found seven more units wrapped in clothing under the Van Veghten bridge, they said.
A search of the ADESA Auto Auction’s parking lot revealed that units were removed from 16 vehicles, police said.
Two of the vehicles from which the units were taken were damaged in excess of $550, police said.
All three defendants were lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set by Superior Court Judge Angela Borkowski at $20,000 with the ability to post $10 percent in cash.

