Burglary Charge For Morristown Man Who Targeted Sleeping Family

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown man has been charged in connection with burglarizing a beachfront home in Sea Girt and stealing the renters' car and personal items while they slept upstairs, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey.

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.

According to authorities, on Monday, Aug. 15, at approximately 5:30 a.m., members of the Sea Girt Police Department responded to a home on the 700 block of Morven Terrace on a report of a burglary.

When the officers arrived, they met with the couple renting the house, who reported that numerous items had been stolen, including electronics, cash, credit cards and the Audi A5 that had been parked in the driveway, Linskey said.

According to police, the suspect entered the house shortly after 2 a.m. through an unlocked rear door. The two renters were 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; the Audi and many of the stolen items were subsequently recovered and returned to their owners.

Read more: Cops Use 'Find My iPad' To Track Down Morristown Thief: Police

“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,” 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.”

In Morris County, Leuzarder has also been charged with evading police, obstructing the law, receiving stolen property, driving while suspended, speeding, reckless driving and careless driving.