Lakewood Couple Charged In Home Burglary Caught On Video: Police

HOWELL, NJ — A Lakewood couple have been arrested in connection with a pair of home burglaries that happened in Howell in the last week, Howell police said Thursday.

Branco Torres, 47, and his girlfriend, Rebecca Alvarado, 48, both of Lakewood, were arrested Wednesday in connection with a Sept. 4 burglary on Lanes Pond Road, and a burglary on Larabee Boulevard on Aug. 28, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said.

Torres and Alvarado are accused of being the two people caught on a home surveillance system on Sept. 4 in the Lanes Pond Road burglary. Police were called when the homeowner saw burglars in his home on his cell phone via a cell phone application connected to his home surveillance system.

Antunez said the suspects had fled before police arrived, but they discovered a side door had been forced open and costume jewelry stolen.

In the Larabee Boulevard burglary, the homeowner arrived home and found a window air conditioning unit removed. Among the missing items were jewelry and a laptop computer that was valued at about $1,500.

The surveillance video from the Lanes Pond Road burglary prompted "a flood of tips" to the department's anonymous tip line, P3Tips, naming Torres and Alvarado as the suspects. Antunez said those tips were corroborated by investigators.

Detectives Robert Ortenzi, David Gilliland and Michael Maccia arrested Torres and Alvarado at their home on Deer Path in Lakewood on Wednesday. Alvarado was wearing a red wig to disguise her appearance at the time of arrest, Antunez said. Searches of their vehicle and home were conducted and all stolen proceeds from both burglaries were recovered and returned to the victims, he said.

Torres was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree theft in connection to both burglaries, and Alvarado was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree theft, but only in connection with the Lanes Pond Road burglary, Antunez said. Both were taken to the Monmouth County jail where they are awaiting detention hearings.

"The Howell Township Police Department continues to benefit from the great support we have in the community and are especially grateful for the people that came forward and assisted with identifying the suspects in this case," Antunez said.

Police said any tip can be sent directly to Howell police through the anonymous tip line, p3tips.com.

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Image of the burglary suspects via Howell Township Police