By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A string of car burglaries may have been halted with the arrest of two men who were wanted for breaking into cars in three townships, according to the Police Department.
Jermaine Robinson Jr., 21, of New Brunswick, and Jerome Thomas, 19, of Somerset are facing numerous counts of burglary and theft for breaking into cars along the Route 27 corridor in South Brunswick, Franklin and North Brunswick townships.
Police are looking for a third suspect — Jarred Robinson, 23, of Franklin Township — whose alleged attempt to break into vehicles in the Royal Oaks rental apartment complex Sept. 24 was thwarted by police. He fled before police could apprehend him.
Since mid-August, there have been 48 reported motor vehicle burglaries in South Brunswick that are connected to the suspects, police said. The burglaries occurred in the Kendall Park and Kingston areas. The stolen items included electronics, jewelry and cash.
The break in the case occurred when South Brunswick detectives linked physical evidence from one of the crime scenes to one of the suspects, police said. Detectives also recovered video surveillance from a home that linked the suspects to the crimes.
Police said the men committed the crime sprees during the overnight hours in residential developments. On one night alone, the men allegedly broke into seven cars parked in the Highgate Manor development.
The two men are being held in the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center. They were picked up with the help of the Franklin Township, North Brunswick Township and New Brunswick police departments.
Jarred Robinson, who is still on the loose, was connected to the case after police recovered a stolen car on Springdale Road on Sept. 21. Police interrupted him in the process of breaking into vehicles in the Royal Oaks apartment complex on Sept. 24.
Mr. Robinson fled, but a bag recovered from the scene was found to contain electronics, clothing and cash that had been stolen from vehicles over the prior week, police said. He is described as a black man, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds.
Anyone with information about Jarred Robinson should call (732) 329-4646. Persons with information about the break-ins should call Detective Dennis Yuhasz or Detective Michael Pellino at (732) 329-4000, ext. 7441.
