Same Man Robbed Colts Neck, Middletown Homes, Police Say

COLTS NECK, NJ — A Tinton Falls man with an alleged long history of burglarizing Monmouth County homes has now been charged with breaking into seven different homes in Middletown and Colts Neck this past fall, police say. Officials say he was looking for jewelry in all the break-ins.

In Middletown, police say Paul Procopio, 31, was targeting homes in the Oak Hill neighborhood. He is charged with breaking into three homes there in the months of October and November, and stealing jewelry and other valuables, Middletown police said.

In Colts Neck, Procopio is charge with breaking into four homes between July and November of this year. He similarly was looking for valuable jewelry, Colts Neck police said.

In 2013, the same Procopio was arrested and charged with breaking into a home on Dutch Lane Road in Marlboro Twp., where he allegedly stole $26,000 worth of jewelry. Earlier that same year, Procopio allegedly stole $500 worth of property from a Freehold home and $7,896 worth of jewelry and cash from a Tinton Falls home.

Middletown police confirmed it is the same man.

Procopio was arrested in Colts Neck after he was recorded on one of the home's security systems. In Middletown, he was charged by Detective First Class William Strohkirch following his investigation.

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