Howell Man Stalked Women From Stores To Home To Rob Them: Police

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell Township man has been arrested less than a day after video circulated of a man lurking outside a home in an apparent attempt to rob the homeowner, in what police allege wasn't the man's first robbery attempt.

Tristan Reyes, 19 of Howell, was arrested Friday afternoon by Howell Township Police Department Detective Cpl. Nancy Carroll and Detective Robert Ortenzi, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said. He was identified following an extensive investigation following a report from a 38-year-old woman that a man had snuck up to her home as she was unloading groceries in her open garage on Thursday.

Video of the frightening incident, posted by the family to Facebook on Thursday, has been shared 70,000 times. In the video from the family's surveillance cameras, a minivan can be seen pulling up. Antunez said not long after the woman arrived home, she noticed a suspicious black van parked in front of her neighbor’s home and alerted her neighbors. Moments later, the van left. The woman knew it was suspicious and checked her home’s surveillance footage, which showed the black minivan followed her into the neighborhood.

The videos show the man, who was dressed in a black hood and black ski mask, as he gets out and cuts across the front lawn to sneak up to the garage and avoid detection, Antunez said. The resident was unaware of the man's presence, but as the man peers around the corner and looks into the garage, the family's Rottweiler comes out barking, and the man takes off. He opens the minivan in an attempt to make it look like he is doing something in the vehicle as the homeowner comes down and retrieves the garbage can. He finally pulls away after the woman goes back into the garage.

Investigators learned Reyes followed the woman from one store to another, and then followed her back home and allegedly was planning to rob her at knifepoint, Antunez said.

But the March 8 incident was not the first, Antunez said.

Authorities allege that on Feb. 24 at about 8 p.m., Reyes followed an 18 year-old girl out of her car and into the Howell ShopRite. He followed the unsuspecting woman around the store, and then back out to her car. When she left the parking lot in her car, Reyes followed in his vehicle, described as a black van, possibly a Honda Odyssey, Antunez said. The woman was going home and realized the vehicle was following her closely. She began to make several unnecessary turns to see if the vehicle would continue to follow her, which it did. When she pulled over to see what the vehicle would do next, the vehicle also pulled over and shut the lights off, Antunez said. The van followed the woman back near her home, prompting her to call her father. The woman’s father attempted to confront the driver, who authorities allege was Reyes, in the street but he sped off, Antunez said. Reyes allegedly planned to rob the 18-year-old at knifepoint, Antunez said.

Authorities also learned Reyes has followed other women, possibly at the Freehold Raceway Mall, around stores and back to their vehicles, he said. In the Howell cases Reyes was operating a black 2004 Honda Odyssey, Antunez said.

Reyes has been charged with two counts each of first-degree robbery, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree stalking, and he is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute pending a detention hearing.

"Typically, a defendant’s photo is not released," Antunez said. "However, investigators are seeking additional information about Reyes’ activities and looking to identify other possible victims. We have positively identified two."

If you believe you have been a victim, or have information pertaining to these cases, please contact either Carroll at 732-938-4575, ext. 2182, or 732-938-4111 and ask to speak to the Officer-In-Charge.

You can also send a private message to Howell police on the department's Facebook page or use the anonymous reporting service www.p3tips.com or the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers' confidential tip-line at 1-800-671-4400. Tipsters can also text "MONMOUTH" and their tip to 274637 or they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com

Detective Sgt. Jack Headley, Detective David Gilliland, Sgt. Scott Revilak and Patrolman David Levine assisted with the investigation along with task force officers from the Red Bank FBI office, Antunez said. Red Bank.

"The Howell Police Department expresses our gratitude to those who left comments on our social media and all who offered assistance including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police ROIC," he said. "It is important to remember, charges are merely accusations. The defendant is not guilty until proven so through the judicial system."

Photos provided by Howell Township Police Department