County Prosecutor: Criminal Group Behind Burglaries

The Union County prosecutor believes a group of criminals are behind a rash of burglaries in western Union County, including several in Westfield. 

County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow announced during a Wednesday afternoon press conference that a rise in burglaries in Berkeley Heights, Westfield, Mountainside and Springfield is likely connected to the same group. He said 16 of the 27 burglaries and two attempted burglaries occurred in Berkeley Heights, with all of them occurring on the Route 78 corridor. These burglaries have occurred between November of last year and the present.

The prosecutor’s office said that four of the burglaries in Westfield that have been cause for concern for being part of this pattern occurred on Lenape Way, Watchung Fork, Normandy Drive and Minisink Way. The office is not sure if the other recent burglaries in town have been connected to this group. Romankow said this group is unrelated to a recent group arrested for committing burglaries in Scotch Plains and Fanwood.

All of the burglaries fit a specific pattern where a car drops two individuals off at a home that appears to be unoccupied. One burglar goes around back, while the other rings the front doorbell. When no one answers the door, the front door burglar breaks down the door, lets in the burglar from the back and the two usually steal jewelry. Romankow said the burglars are typically in the house no more than three minutes and usually know where to find jewelry. Romankow estimates ten of thousands of dollars in jewelry has been taken, with very few other items being stolen. The jewelry has not been recovered. A getaway car is usually circling the neighborhood during the burglary. Most of the burglaries occur between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“They seem to know where to go,” Romankow said of the burglars’ time in the house. “We are concerned about that.”

The prosecutor said law enforcement is not sure if the burglars are previously casing homes before robbing them or know that most people keep jewelry in the bedroom. He said there is concern that the burglars are following high-end cars from shopping malls and supermarkets and using that to determine homes to hit.  He said there is also a possibility the burglars are using luxury cars in the driveways to determine the homes to hit. Romankow noted this group of burglaries is centered in wealthy communities.

The pattern of following a luxury car from a supermarket is similar to a case in Connecticut where a mother and two daughters were killed by home invaders who followed them home from a supermarket. Romankow said that while there has been no physical violence during the burglaries and there is no indication of the burglars carrying weapons, he wants to put a stop to the group before any incidents occur.

“Anytime anyone invades the sanctity of a bedroom, I am concerned,” he said.

Romankow noted that in one case, when a child answered the door when the bell was rung, the burglars chose to leave the property and said they had the wrong house.

Romankow said he is not sure if the group is part of a gang. He said that both men and women have been spotted in the impacted neighborhoods and people of various ethnic and racial backgrounds have been reported as suspects.

Romankow said it is no surprise the burglaries are centered around the Interstate 78 corridor, with the easy access to and from other states and urban centers such as Newark and Irvington. He said it is likely the burglars are coming in from other communities. He said his office is working with local police departments and other counties in the investigation.

The Westfield Police have been working as part of a joint task force with other towns from Union and Somerset Counties in handling the burglary investigation. During a neighborhood meeting on burglaries last month in the Shadowlawn neighborhood, Police Captain David Wayman said that the task force has been centering its investigation on the Interstate 78 and Rt. 22 corridors.

Romankow asked anyone with information about the burglaries to contact either the Westfield Police at 789-4000 or contact Union County Crimestoppers at 908-654-TIPS. He said the public should keep on the look out for out-of-the-ordinary cars in their neighborhood and not try to stop a burglary in progress. He also encouraged the public to not leave stray newspapers lying around, arrange for neighbors to pick up the mail while vacationing and to leave lights, televisions and computers on in the house when not home.

“This is not the type of thing where the public should intercede,” Romankow said. “I am more concerned about the safety of the public and not the items taken.”