Sea Girt Beach Home Broken Into While Renters Slept Upstairs

SEA GIRT, NJ — A man who police say burglarized a beachfront home in Sea Girt and stole the renters' car (an Audi A5) and personal items while they slept upstairs last week has been located and charged, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Tuesday.

Justin Leuzarder, 39, of Morristown is charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree theft.

His arrest was also announced by Sea Girt Police Chief Justin Macko.

The Sea Girt vacation home was broken into last Monday, Aug. 15, say police. At approximately 5:30 a.m. that day, Sea Girt Police responded to a home on the 700 block of Morven Terrace for a 911 call of a burglary.

Upon arrival, the officers met with the couple who was renting the home, who noted that numerous items had been stolen, including their personal electronics, cash, credit cards and their Audi A5 that had been parked in the driveway.

Police say the suspect entered the home through an unlocked rear door shortly after 2 a.m. The two tenants had been sleeping upstairs. The two tenants of the home did not encounter him during the course of the burglary and were uninjured.

Later on the same morning of the burglary, Leuzarder was taken into police custody following a traffic stop in Denville (Morris County); the Audi and many of the stolen items were subsequently recovered and returned to their owners.

“This is certainly not a problem limited to just one town, or even one county – there has been a surge in motor vehicle thefts occurring statewide and beyond this year,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “Homeowners and renters alike need to remember to make sure that they lock their cars, take their key fobs with them, and please lock their homes. It’s chilling to think that the victims in this case were in their dwelling while the defendant was in the home.”

“This case presents a good opportunity to remind the public to please always remember to keep your home and vehicle locked,” Sea Girt Police Chief Macko added. “Theft prevention is very often merely as simple as taking quick, easy measures to protect yourself and your property.”