LAWRENCE: Trenton man arrested in 14 car burglaries

James Prather, 55, of Trenton, was charged with one count each of criminal trespass and theft, plus 14 counts of burglary, for allegedly breaking into 14 cars that were parked at the Aamco Transmissions

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   James Prather, 55, of Trenton, was charged with one count each of criminal trespass and theft, plus 14 counts of burglary, for allegedly breaking into 14 cars that were parked at the Aamco Transmissions business on Princeton Avenue at 4:11 a.m. Dec. 1, according to police Sgt. Joseph Amodio.
   A police officer on patrol noticed Mr. Prather as he was walking in the area, carrying a couple of backpacks, Sgt. Amodio said. The officer stopped to talk to Mr. Prather, and discovered there was an active warrant for him.
   When the police officer searched the backpacks that Mr. Prather was carrying, he found that one of them belonged to an Aamco Transmissions employee who had left his car at the business, Sgt. Amodio said. Police went back to the Aamco Transmissions business and found that 14 cars, parked in a fenced-in area on the property, had been rummaged through.
   During their search of the Aamco Transmissions property, police also recovered a 2002 Mercedes-Benz sedan that had been reported stolen from Philadelphia on April 27, 2011.
   Mr. Prather was taken to the Mercer County Corrections Center on $35,000 bail.