Long Branch Man Part Of Duo That Broke Into 100 Cars, Police Say

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A Long Branch man was part of a duo responsible for more than 100 car burglaries in Monmouth County in the spring of 2020 as well as two armed robberies, according to charges filed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Mario Mondragon, 21, of Long Branch and Genaro Guzman, 21, of Shrewsbury were both arrested last Thursday, Oct. 8.

Mondragon was arrested in Long Branch and Guzman was arrested in Shrewsbury.

Their arrests come after a five-month investigation led by the New Jersey State Police into the car break-ins, which occurred in April, May and June. The two men broke into cars in Long Branch, Eatontown, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls and Ocean, said police.

Details of their two alleged armed robberies are as follows:

• According to State Police, on Saturday, May 16, Mondragon and Guzman were burglarizing a car at a Shrewsbury home when they were confronted by the homeowners. During the confrontation, the suspects brandished a handgun and taser before fleeing, said police.

• Then on Saturday, June 6, police say the same duo sprayed a deliveryman with pepper spray and physically assaulted him during a robbery in Eatontown.

In addition to those two incidents, State Police said they were able to link Mondragon and Guzman to an additional 100 vehicle burglaries in Monmouth County.

Mondragon and Guzman were charged with armed robbery, weapons offenses, aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, burglar and theft. They were lodged at the Monmouth County jail.