String Of Burglaries Across Chester and Mendham Twp Ends With 3 Arrested

CHESTER, NJ— Three men from Chicago were arrested after police say they burglarized a string of Chester and Mendham homes. The men were allegedly posing as utilities workers.

The men were posing as workers from the utilities company, wearing neon green safety vests, when they approached a Chester home on Route 24, Chester Police said. They reportedly asked residents if they were having power troubles during the rain storms.

During the same timeframe, Mendham Township Police were investigating a similar incident. Both involved gray SUVs.

Shortly after that, police responded to reports of a gray SUV broken down that had been towed to a nearby repair shop. Police noticed green utility vests in the car and a partly covered jewelry box, they said.

After an investigation, tree were arrested: Tony Thomas, 28, Nicholas Costello, 28, and Sony Costello, 26, all from Chicago, Illinois. They were charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking and providing false information to a law enforcement officer in Chester, and burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in Mendham Township.

All three were lodged in the Morris County Correction facility.

Chester Police remind all residents to ask for identification before allowing someone who says they are with a utility company into your home.

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