Man Charged In Connection With 6 Morris Co. Burglaries

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A 48-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a string of commercial burglaries allegedly committed throughout Morris County, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced.

Kenneth K. Cook, 48, of Allentown, PA, was charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, five counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, five counts of theft by unlawful taking, one count of theft by unlawful taking, six counts of burglary and six counts of criminal mischief, police said.

Cook is still being held at the Bergen Correctional Facility County jail, awaiting a detention hearing, Carroll said.

According to a police investigation, the six commercial burglaries happened between Nov. 2021 and Jan. 2022. In several incidents, Cook is seen leaving the scene with a large sack and entering the rear passenger door of a dark-colored Acura TL before fleeing.

The first burglary on Nov. 7, 2021, was at a store in Randolph. More than 80 packs of cigarettes were stolen, and a glass door was smashed, causing damage to the business, Carroll said.

Also on Nov. 7, a gas station in Succasunna was burglarized and multiple cigarette cartons, scratch-off lottery tickets and cash were taken. The front glass door was smashed, causing damage to the business, Carroll said.

On Nov. 21, 2021, a restaurant in Florham Park was burglarized. An unknown amount of cash was taken from the restaurant and a glass door was smashed, causing damage to the business, Carroll said. Later that same night a convenience store in Florham Park was also burglarized and multiple cartons of cigarettes and cigars, lottery tickets and cash were taken.

On Dec. 18, 2021, a gas station in Randolph was burglarized. A safe, multiple cigarette cartons, vape merchandise and an unknown amount of cash were taken. The front glass door was smashed, causing damage to the business, Carroll said.

A gas station in Dover was burglarized on Jan. 12, 2022, and cash, scratch-off lottery tickets, and multiple cigarette cartons were taken. A glass door was smashed, causing damage to the business, Carroll said.