JACKSON – Two men have been charged with burglary following an investigation that was assisted by tips from individuals who viewed video footage of the suspects at the door of a residence.
Jackson police said that at 1:25 p.m. Dec. 20, officers responded to a suspicious persons report at a home off Burke Road, Jackson. Police said two men the resident did not know were observed on a Ring video doorbell approaching the residence for unknown reasons.
Police reported that nothing further occurred at that location and said it appears the men recognized there was a video doorbell in use and quickly left the home. A small dark colored vehicle was then seen leaving the area.
Jackson police posted video of the incident on their Facebook page.
Just over one hour later, at 2:45 p.m., a resident of Hopkins Place, Jackson, reported a burglary and theft. Police were told that a family member returned home and discovered a rear door open and a bedroom ransacked. Hopkins Place is off Cassville Road.
At 3:21 p.m., a resident of Francesca Lane, Jackson, reported a burglary and theft. Police were told a door was forced open and that property valued in excess of $10,000 was stolen. Francesca Lane is in a residential development off East Veterans Highway.
On Dec. 22, Jackson police reported that an investigation conducted by the Jackson Police Department, the New Jersey State Police and the Manchester Township Police Department had resulted in the arrest of two suspects.
Police said the investigation was assisted by numerous tips that were received after footage showing two men standing on the front steps of a residence was included in a news release. The footage was taken by a doorbell equipped with recording capabilities.
Police said one suspect was found at his residence in Toms River and the second suspect was located by state police in Trenton.
Police said a 33-year-old male resident of Toms River and a 32-year-old male resident of Aberdeen Township were each charged with two counts of burglary in regard to the incidents in Jackson. Each man was also charged with theft and criminal attempt to commit burglary. Both men were initially placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.
Jackson police said proceeds from the burglaries were recovered from one suspect’s home and from one suspect’s vehicle.
An investigation was able to connect the suspects with recent burglaries on Hopkins Place and on Francesca Lane in Jackson, and with an attempted burglary on Cobain Road in Jackson, according to police.
On Dec. 20, the same day the burglaries were reported in Jackson, a residential burglary was reported in neighboring Millstone Township.
On Dec. 26, a representative of the state police, which covers Millstone Township, said that burglary remained under investigation and could not comment further.
In a post on social media, a Millstone Township resident said the Dec. 20 burglary in that community occurred on Lawrence Spring Road, off Paint Island Spring Road.