Serial Burglar Targeted Somerset County Businesses: Prosecutor

BRANCHBURG, NJ — An Edison man was charged in connection with a series of burglaries at businesses in Branchburg that spanned over 10 months, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Somerset County Prosecutors Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor.

Gregory Q. Green, 50, Edison, was charged on Oct. 12, with third-degree burglary, third-degree theft, and criminal mischief a disorderly persons offense.

The first burglary was reported on April 28, 2021, at around 9:07 a.m., where Branchburg Township Police went to a business on Columbia Road for a report of a burglary.

Officers met with the owner of the business who reported that sometime during the evening hours someone entered the building, ransacked the offices, and removed an undisclosed amount of cash from a desk drawer.

On June 18, 2021, at around 7:20 a.m., Branchburg officers went to a business on Columbia Road for a report of a burglary. Officers were directed to a damaged window screen and saw a desk draw inside of the building that had been pried open. The investigation revealed that an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.

On Aug. 3, 2021, at around 7:44 a.m. Branchburg officers went to a business on Columbia Road for a report of a burglary. They were directed to glass on the ground from a shattered window. The business owner said that nothing was missing or stolen.

On Sept. 23, 2021, at around 7:53 a.m. Branchburg officers went to a burglary on Columbia Road. The officers met with the business owner who reported that a window of one of three separate buildings had been damaged, and power tools were alleged to be stolen.

On Oct. 5, 2021, at around 12:40 p.m., Branchburg officers went to a business on Columbia Road. The owner of the business directed them to a side door of a garage that had been damaged and forced open. A check of the garage interior found that nothing was missing or stolen.

On Dec. 23, 2021, at around 10:02 a.m., Branchburg officers went to a business on Columbia Road for a reported burglary. The business owner reported that someone had pried open the doors to two parked trailers. The owner reported that nothing was missing.

On Jan. 29, 2022, at around 9:25 a.m., Branchburg officers went to a business on Columbia Road for a reported burglary. The officers saw a broken garage door window and a damaged door that had been pried open. Officers saw that someone had tried to pry open a gun safe and then knocked it over causing damage to an antique car. The business owner reported that nothing appeared to be missing or stolen.

On March 14, 2022, Green was arrested at his home without incident by South Plainfield Police Officers and Edison Police Officers on burglary, theft, criminal mischief charges within their area and taken to Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center.

A joint investigation with the Edison Police Department, South Plainfield Police Department, the Branchburg Township Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit, resulted in Green being identified as the person involved in the Branchburg business burglaries and thefts, said McDonald.

On Oct. 12, Green was charged and currently remains in the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending a detention hearing for his charges in Somerset County.

McDonald commends all of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, and the sharing of information which ultimately led to the identification of Green for the burglaries that occurred in Somerset County.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Branchburg Township Police Department at 908-526-3830 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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