SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Police seek information on burglaries

Township police, in conjunction with Middlesex County Crime Stoppers, is seeking information on a series of residential burglaries.

By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
   The Police Department, in conjunction with Middlesex County Crime Stoppers, is seeking information on a series of residential burglaries.
   The Crime Stoppers are offering a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to the capture and conviction of the burglars.
   Dating back to December 2013, the burglary spree involves more than a dozen break-ins in the Kendall Park section of the township.
   According to police, the residences were targeted in the evening hours and are located along the Route 27 corridor. The homes that were entered were all dark and appeared to be vacant at the time of the break-ins. The suspects would force entry through a window or sliding glass door and then steal jewelry from the home.
   Residents should leave porch lights on and report anything unusual immediately, police said.
   ”We need the public’s assistance with catching these suspects,” Chief of Police Raymond Hayducka said. “We need residents in the Kendall Park section to be alert, especially between 4 and 9 p.m.”
   Police have stepped up patrols in the neighborhoods and, although the increased presence has led to several arrests, none of those arrested have been connected to the recent burglaries.
   On Dec. 31, a field stop resulted in the arrest of a man wanted in Georgia for burglary. A man was arrested on Jan. 1, following a foot chase through the Brunswick Acres development and a drug arrest was made after a motor vehicle stop on Jan. 6.
   Plain-clothed officers patrolling the neighborhoods in an unmarked car as part of a burglary surveillance detail observed a suspicious vehicle on Hastings Road on Jan. 9.
   The 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse with Pennsylvania license plates was driving slowly but accelerated and fled when the officers activated their lights and siren and attempted to pull it over. They later found the car a half mile away, having been abandoned by the suspect, who fled on foot.
   The vehicle was impounded and officers obtained a search warrant and recovered some controlled dangerous substances. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Thomas Spinola, 35, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Spinola eventually surrendered to officers at police headquarters and was charged with eluding and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. After posting $20,000 bail, he was released, pending his first court appearance.
   Township police are asking anyone who may have seen unusual activity in their neighborhood to call police at 732-329-4646.
   Middlesex County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the suspects responsible for the string of burglaries. All tips are confidential and callers can remain anonymous. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-939-9600, text tips to 274637, with “MIDTIP” included in the message or visit the organization’s website at http://www.middlesextips.com/index.aspx.