South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with more than 60 car burglaries in the central New Jersey area over the past month. Chief Hayducka said, “It was the teamwork from several police departments that captured this suspect. The suspect may have believed that by going over different township lines he would be able to get away with his crimes, but he was wrong.” Police were able to track down the suspect using a video recovered by South Brunswick detectives, a tip developed by East Brunswick detectives, an alert Jamesburg patrolman, and a fast response by Monroe police officers. “This case exemplifies excellent teamwork,” said Chief Hayducka.
Police around the area had reported a spike in burglaries to motor vehicles over the past month. In South Brunswick there were 15 reported car burglaries this past weekend. Detectives shared intelligence and increased directed patrols. On Tuesday morning at 2:00am Jamesburg Police Officer Joseph Quinn was on patrol in Beaver Brook complex when he observed an individual attempting to break into a car in a neighboring development on Dorene Court in Monroe Township. The suspect fled from Officer Quinn into the woods nearby woods. Officer Quinn notified Monroe Police who quickly surrounded the area. Several minutes later the suspect, Curtis Brown Jr, age 26 of Helmetta was located hiding in a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. He was immediately arrested.
Monroe, Jamesburg, and South Brunswick detectives then conducted a search of a Route 130 motel in South Brunswick and recovered numerous stolen items. The items had been stolen from unlocked motor vehicles. The recovered stolen items have been linked to crimes in several towns including Old Bridge, East Brunswick, Jamesburg, Monroe, and South Brunswick. Detectives are working with other police departments to see if additional recovered items can be linked to any open cases.
Police believe Brown would drive around to different neighborhoods and check for unlocked doors. He would rummage through the unlocked vehicles stealing anything of value. The investigation found that many of the stolen items were then sold so Brown could buy heroin. Detectives are confident Brown did not operate alone and are looking for additional suspects.
Brown has been charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft, and receiving stolen property. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center pending his first court appearance.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact South Brunswick Detective Dennis Yuhasz or Detective Brady Shelcusky at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7496; Monroe Detective Ray Gifford at (732) 521-0222 ext. 121; or Jamesburg Detective Jason Muller at (732) 521-0011.
Chief Hayducka credited great police work by all the officers and detectives from Jamesburg Police Department, Monroe Police Department, East Brunswick Police Department, and the South Brunswick Police Department who were involved with stopping this crime spree.
