South Brunswick Police issued a warrant for the arrest of 21 year old Jahmir Boyd-Ashley in connection to a recent burglary to a local convenience store. On October 9, 2018 at 4:00am Officer Mathew Haagood of the South Brunswick PD was dispatched to the Stop & Go Food Store in Kendall Park for a burglar alarm. When Officer Haagood arrived he discovered the front glass door had been smashed with a brick. A check of the store revealed merchandise had been stolen which included cash, scratch off lottery tickets, cigarettes, cigars, and money orders. The owner estimated several thousands of dollars worth of stolen items and damage were done. Surveillance footage of the incident showed two individuals wearing masks and gloves committing the burglary. Additional surveillance footage also showed a green coupe driving in the area of the Stop & Go Food Store prior to the burglary.
At 8am South Brunswick detectives sent out an advisory to area law enforcement about the burglary and included surveillance images from the store. At 8:15am, four hours after the burglary occurred, Officer Keith Alexander of the Bordentown Township PD was dispatched to a residence near Route 130 in Bordentown Township for the report of found property. The resident advised Officer Alexander that a large amount of money orders were found near his driveway. Officer Alexander realized the items he recovered matched the earlier bulletin issued by South Brunswick Police.
Detectives from the South Brunswick Police met up with Officer Alexander and other members of the Bordentown Township Police Department. A canvass of area businesses near where the stolen items were recovered located surveillance footage showing two individuals walking into a nearby Hotel with stolen property linked to the burglary. One of the individuals was later identified as Jahmir Boyd-Ashley age 21 of Willingboro. Officers determined Boyd-Ashley was renting a room in the Hotel. The team of officers and detectives from South Brunswick and Bordentown Police Departments executed search warrants on a hotel room and a green coupe parked in a nearby hotel lot. Police recovered additional stolen items from the South Brunswick store. In addition, police located clothing in the car that the suspects were seen wearing during the burglary. Boyd-Ashley never returned to the hotel room. He has been charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and theft. He remains a fugitive.
Chief Raymond Hayducka credited the cooperation between both police agencies involved with the success of the case. Chief Hayducka said, “In less than 12 hours police linked a crime to a suspect 20 miles away. It was the rapid collaboration of both police departments that led to the identification of the suspect and recovery of much of the stolen property. This case demonstrated excellent teamwork by everyone involved.”
South Brunswick Police are actively attempting to locate Mr. Boyd-Ashley and still attempting to identify the second suspect. Police ask anyone with information to contact South Brunswick Police at (732) 329-4646.
