SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A droplet of blood found in a jewelry box led to the arrest of a man authorities believe burglarized several township homes late last year.
Alex Rodriguez, 35, of New Brunswick, was arrested and charged May 4 after authorities identified his DNA at a crime scene.
The rash of burglaries hit Beekman Manor in November and December 2009. Rodriguez was charged with four residential burglaries in South Brunswick: two on Jared Boulevard, one on Stadelman Court, and one on Setter Place.
Detective Ron Seaman and Detective Richard Schwarz, who conducted the investigation, processed the crime scenes and followed dozens of leads, according to Sgt. James Ryan of the South Brunswick Police Department.
Though the detectives’ investigation led them to a primary suspect, they did not have enough evidence to charge him, Ryan said. Last week, however, the New Jersey State Police Lab contacted the South Brunswick detectives and confirmed that the blood found in the jewelry box matched their top suspect.
“They tracked down leads, networked with other agencies, but in the end it was their careful crime-scene processing that created the break,” said Chief Raymond Hayducka, who praised the officers for their diligent work.
Rodriguez allegedly wore latex gloves when he broke into the homes, typically between 3 and 8 p.m. on weekdays, according to authorities.
“He typically would break in by smashing a rear window to gain entry,” Seaman said.
The detectives noted that while Rodriguez was careful not to leave fingerprints, he did not realize that he was actually leaving something behind, which, in this case, was a drop of his blood.
Rodriguez may have been stealing jewelry from a jewelry box in an upstairs bedroom when he inadvertently punctured his finger on a piece of jewelry, Ryan said. The puncture wound left a small drop of blood inside the jewelry box. When examining the scene, detectives found the blood and sent it off for further examination.
At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was already incarcerated at the Middlesex County Correction Center, North Brunswick, for charges related to possession of controlled dangerous substances and stolen property. An item found on the suspect during the January arrest was determined to be from one of the South Brunswick burglaries, police said.
Because Rodriguez is an illegal alien, he is being held on an ICE detainer, meaning he will be deported regardless of the outcome of his criminal case. Rodriguez’s bail was set at $50,000.