Bergen County Woman Arrested for Assisting Boyfriend, Accomplices in Residential Burglaries

The girlfriend of one of the three Bergen County men arrested in connection with a slew of residential burglaries and thefts in three New Jersey counties was arrested Friday after turning herself in.

Janay Cole, 26, of Teaneck, turned herself in to police Friday for allegedly assisting her boyfriend, Jamelle Singletary, and two other accomplices in over 30 residential thefts in Bergen, Morris and Somerset Counties, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

Singletary, 26, Lawal Erskine, 30, Jamaal Sermon, 30, all from Teaneack, and David Tadjiev, 39, of New York, were arrested earlier this month following a nine month investigation after Bergen County detectives linked together more than 30 residential burglaries.

According to Molinelli, the burglars targeted residences located in affluent neighborhoods, likely selected by their size, the presence of expensive vehicles in the driveway and the appearance of the residence being unoccupied at the time. The residences were also generally attacked in the early evening hours during the middle of the week, and were often located in or adjacent to a cul-de-sac.

The forced entries were often gained by forcing open the front doors and once inside, the burglars proceeded to the master bedrooms and removed jewelry, cash and other property. In most of the incidents, pillow cases were taken from the residences and likely used to transport the property, according to Molinelli.

The men would then take the stolen goods to a “fence,” identified as David Tadjiev, who would pay large amounts of money for the stolen property.

The investigation further revealed that prior to the burglaries in Somerset County, Singletary’s live-in girlfriend, Janay Cole, assisted in these crimes by providing the location and address to burglarize, among other things, Molinelli said.

Following the execution of search warrants on Cole and Singletary’s residence, Cole was charged with one count of possession of suspected cocaine with intent to distribute, a second degree offense, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child by possessing cocaine with intent to distribute in the presence of a minor child.

Cole was also charged by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for her role in their burglaries with one count of theft and with one count of resisting arrest by fleeing the area after being notified that she was wanted by law enforcement in connection with the investigation. Cole remained at large for over a week until Friday, Nov. 14. when she turned herself in to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Cole is currently in the Bergen County Jail.

Sermon is currently in custody in Westchester County, New York, on a fugitive from justice warrant and is pending extradition to New Jersey. Singletary, Erskine and Tadjiev were recently extradited from New York and are currently in the Bergen County Jail.

Investigators believe that additional charges will be forthcoming as the investigation continues.