3 Middletown Burglaries: Land Rover Stolen And Homeowners Confront Suspects In 2 Break-Ins

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Three Middletown homes were broken into over the weekend, plus a Land Rover was stolen, and the same group of suspects tried to unsuccessfully steal two other cars, according to Middletown Police.

All of the break-ins occurred over the course of several hours before dawn Sunday morning in the Oak Hill and Lincroft sections. In two of the incidents, Middletown homeowners confronted the suspects inside their homes in the 4 a.m. hour, said police.

Police think the same group of suspects are responsible for all the home invasions, plus the Land Rover theft.

Here is the timeline of what happened:

Burglary No. 1, a garage entered through a window: At approximately 3:55 a.m. Sunday, male suspects attempted to steal a vehicle that was parked in the driveway of a home in Bamm Hollow Estates in Lincroft. Additionally, the suspects were observed on home security cameras entering the garage through a garage window, in an attempt to take a second vehicle that was parked inside.

The suspects were unable to steal either vehicle, said police.

Burglary No. 2, inside an actual home: Less than one hour later, suspects entered a home in the Four Winds neighborhood in the Oak Hill section. When the suspects were inside the house, the homeowner confronted them and they ran to a waiting vehicle and fled the area.

Shortly thereafter, police think the same group of suspects attempted to steal a vehicle that was parked in the driveway of a home located off Dwight Road in the Oak Hill section.

Burglary No. 3, again inside a home, which suspects entered through a garage window: After that attempt was unsuccessful, the suspect went to the house next door. There, they entered through a garage window and then entered the home, which activated the home's security alarm. Hearing the alarm, the resident investigated the cause and confronted the suspects, who were inside the house.

The suspects fled, but were able to steal the vehicle in the driveway, a 2022 Land Rover.

On Monday morning, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said incidents like these only strengthened his ongoing calls to bring back cash bail for car theft and home invasion suspects. Due to New Jersey bail reform passed in 2014, most people charged with car theft and burglary are released within a day of being apprehended.

"Why won't Trenton convene an emergency meeting to deal with this?" said Perry.

He also predicted someone is going to get killed in a home break-in, or in the car theft surge. 'Serious' Spike In NJ Car Thefts, Attorney General Warns (March 2022)

"What I don't want to have happen — and I think no mayor in the state of New Jersey wants to have happen — is for them to have to fix bail reform because someone died," said Perry.

Land Rover recovered within hours of being stolen

The stolen luxury car has since been recovered thanks to the Middletown Police Department working with the State Police Auto Theft Task Force.

According to Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber, the Middletown PD has assigned an officer to the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force for the last three years, specifically due to the spike in car theft victimizing suburban New Jersey residents.

Information about the stolen Land Rover was gathered at the scene and was quickly relayed to the State Police Task Force.

"This facilitated in the recovery of the vehicle within a couple of hours of the incident," said Chief Weber. "This assignment proved vital in these incidents.'"

Statewide, car theft is up 41 percent compared to 2020, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and State Police.

Monmouth County has seen a 104 percent increase this year: Monmouth County logged 63 car thefts in the first quarter of 2021, and 129 car thefts the first quarter of 2022, according to county Sheriff Shaun Golden.

"The Middletown Twp. Police take these crimes very seriously and do everything we can to protect the residents of Middletown and their property," continued Weber, who thanked Middletown residents for being vigilant. "The crime of auto theft is, unfortunately, a widespread and interjurisdictional problem that has been occurring in numerous towns throughout Monmouth County. Additionally, the actors in these incidents are becoming more brazen in their efforts to steal these high-value vehicles."

From the Middletown Police Department: The public is asked to be mindful to always remove any key fobs and ensure that their vehicles are locked. Additionally, homeowners should make sure that the doors and windows to the house are locked, the garage doors are closed, and any home security system and alarm is turned on at night or if away from the home. Last, the residents are asked to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police.

On this topic: Keep Convicted Car Theft Suspects In Jail, Says Monmouth Co. Democrat (Dec. 2022)

Reinstate Cash Bail For Car Theft, Burglary Suspects: Middletown Mayor (Sept. 2022)

Bring Back Bail For Car Thieves, Say NJ Republican Lawmakers (May 2022)