Thief Used Stolen Ladder To Break Into Princeton Home: Police

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton police are investigating an incident in which an unknown person stole a ladder from one home and used it to break into another.

A resident of St. Clair Court reported that some time between noon on May 20 and 7 a.m. on May 28, someone broke into her home through a garage window and stole a ladder, the Princeton Police Department announced.

Further investigation revealed the culprit then used the ladder to break into a neighboring home. It was unknown what items may have been stolen from that home.

Separately, Princeton police said two people were seen walking behind several properties in the Washington Oaks neighborhood at about 10:12 p.m. on May 26. That incident was captured on video surveillance footage from a camera located on the back of a home. Video from that incident is embedded below.

“As a reminder please secure the doors and windows of your residence as well as your vehicles,” police said in a statement. “Please contact our department if you see anyone or anything suspicious or if you have more information regarding the above described incident.”

The first incident was reported as part of the Princeton Police Department’s weekly crime log posted on the town’s website. All incidents are merely accusations, and those accused are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. Other incidents are as follows:

A child’s bike was stolen from the bike rack at Community Park School, some time between 3 p.m. on May 22 and 3 p.m. on May 24. The bike is an all-black Trek boys mountain bike valued at approximately $400.

Shawn Goss, 20, of Trenton, was arrested on an active warrant out of Hamilton Township (Mercer County) in the amount of $250 following a traffic stop for driving while suspended on Palmer Square West on May 29. He was taken to police headquarters, where he was processed, issued his summonses with a pending court date and released after posting a partial bail of $180.

Cheryl Korte, 59, of Holland, Texas, was arrested for driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop on Mercer Street for failure to maintain lane on May 26. She was taken to police headquarters, where she was processed, issued several motor vehicle summonses with a pending court date and released to a sober adult.

Richie Monteiro, 39, of Burlington, NJ, was arrested for driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop for speeding, illegal turn and failure to signal on Dickenson Street on May 25. He was taken to police headquarters, where he was processed, issued several motor vehicle summonses with a pending court date and released to a sober adult.

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