Man Charged With Burglarizing Long Branch Home: Police

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A man was charged with breaking through the window of and burglarizing a Long Branch home Thursday, police said. Marco Cota-Caetano confessed to breaking into the home, according to authorities.

The theft took place about 12:02 a.m. Thursday around Brighton Avenue, according to Chief Jason Roebuck. Cota-Caetano entered the master bedroom through a bathroom window and took change from an empty water jug an aluminum can full of coins, police said.

The victim said a man broke into a residence. He described the man as possibly Brazilian or Portuguese, wearing a blue FC Barcelona jersey of Neymar Jr. The suspect was also described as about 5-foot-9 and light-skinned with short black hair and unshaven facial hair. He left on a bicycle, police said.

Corporal Kijung Kim canvassed the area for the suspect. Kim found a man riding a bicycle in a Neymar Jr. soccer jersey. The officer conducted an interview with the suspect and identified Cota-Caetano. The victim identified Cota-Caetano as the person who entered his house, Roebuck said.

Forensic Detective Robert Poss processed the crime scene. Poss depicted Cota-Caetano entering through the east side of the first-floor window. Cota-Caetano stood on a 5-gallon bucket to reach the bathroom window, police said. Cota-Caetano left a partial boot print. He entered the master bedroom and took change from an empty water jug an aluminum can full of coins, police said.

Cota-Caetano was charged with burglary to structure and theft of property, Roebuck said. He confessed to Detective Michael Verdadeiro in Portuguese.

"Great job by all the officers and Detectives involved!" Roebuck said in a statement.

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