Teen Charged in Parsons Road Burglary

A tip from an alert neighbor led to an arrest as part of an ongoing string of residential burglaries that have hit East Brunswick in recent weeks.

Following a tip from a Parsons Road resident who observed a suspicious male near their home this week, police apprehended the suspect later identified as a teenager from New Brunswick. After receiving permission from the juvenile teen's parent, Det. Dan Unkel spoke with the suspect who admitted to taking part in a burglary, police said.

The teen was charged with burglary and released to his parents. 

The arrest was part of ongoing effort to stem the rising tide of residential burglaries that have targeted East Brunswick homes in recent weeks. Police said the burglaries have predominantly occurred during the daytime and early evening hours while many residents are at work.

The areas that have been hit recently include the neighborhoods near Summerhill Road and Old Stage Road (Clearview, Stephens and Dobson) and neighborhoods near Ryder’s Lane by the North Brunswick border (Ryders, Corona, Perry, Allwood, Bruning and Jean), police said. There were also burglaries reported on Parsons Road and Flagler Street. 

The common methods used in the break-ins saw one or more suspects initially knocking on a front door to see if anyone was home. If the door was answered, the suspect would then claim to be from a utility company, looking for a friend, or would say they saw an ad for an item being sold, according to police. 

If the residence was unoccupied, the suspects would then enter each home through an unsecured rear door or window, or sometimes through forced entry by prying open a locked door or window, police said.

East Brunswick officers have since stepped up directed patrols in various neighborhoods to combat the burglaries, according to police. The patrols are designed to target various neighborhoods in hopes of addressing any issues in those specific areas. 

Police have also placed plain-clothes officers in the affected areas.

Burglary prevention tips: 

• Make your home look occupied and make it difficult to break in. 
• Don’t allow for mail or newspapers to build up. If you are not going to be home, have someone take them in regularly or have the post office hold your mail until you get back. 
• Lock all doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. 
• Leave lights on when you go out. If gone for an extended period of time use automatic timers. 
• If possible leave a radio on loud enough for someone outside listening to think people are home. 
• Keep your garage door closed and locked. 
• Deadbolts are a preferred lock for all exterior doors. 
• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security. Some type of security device should be in place to avoid slider from being opened from the outside. 
• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives. 
• Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion sensitive light is recommended for backyards. 
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders. 
• Close blinds to avoid people seeing inside your residence to observe valuable items or that your not home.