Crime & Safety
Police: Dad Caught Burglarizing Home as Son, 2, Waited in Van
Two men nabbed breaking into Conklin Avenue home, found with loot from other burglaries as child sat in vehicle, police said.
A 2-year-old boy was found in a van while his dad and another man were burglarizing a Conklin Avenue home Wednesday afternoon, Hopatcong Police said.
Darien Depew, 19, of Newton, and Thomas Depew, 24, of Hopatcong, were each charged with burglary and theft. It was not immediately known if or how the two are related.
According to Lt. Thomas Kmetz, officers responded to a burglary report at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and found the boy in the van while Darien Depew was on the front porch holding a computer tower and Thomas Depew was taking pictures near the side of the house.
The men told officers they worked for "The Wright Solutions" and were subcontracted to take pictures and clean the yard of foreclosed homes, Kmetz said.
The homeowner said the residence was not in foreclosure but is a short sale, Kmetz said. The men had no response why they were taking items from inside the home, Kmetz said.
The men were found in possession of the following items from the Conklin Avenue residence as well as from homes in Vernon, Kmetz said.
- Nintendo 64 system
- Nintendo games
- Xbox controller
- Black and Decker hedge trimmer
- HP computer
- Ace monitor
- N.Y. Giants figure
- N.Y. Giants miniature helmet
- Punce 250 Amp
- Garage tool set
- RCA portable DVD player
- XL Grenade blue coat
- Hooded sweatshirt
The two were lodged at the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail each with a 10 percent option.
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