Crime & Safety
2 Charged In South Brunswick Dirt Bike Theft, Police Say
Police followed footprints in the snow to locate the 18-year-old man and the juvenile, authorities said.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Two New Brunswick residents were charged Thursday morning in connection with the theft of seven dirt bikes from a South Brunswick home, police said.
South Brunswick police responded to Ireland Brook Park around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 12 after receiving a report of a theft in progress.
A Davidson Mill Road resident told police he found a blanket covering a security camera in his backyard and discovered several dirt bikes missing from his garage. The resident went to Ireland Brook Park, where he saw a man dressed in black running behind a home on Ireland Brook Drive, police said.
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Surveillance footage showed two men walking behind the man's home around 2:10 a.m. carrying blankets, which they used to cover security cameras on the property, police said. The homeowner had recovered several of the stolen dirt bikes along a trail leading to the park's parking lot, but three remained missing.
Officers followed footprints in the snow to a home on Ireland Brook Drive, where they found Christopher Diaz-Escobar, 18, of New Brunswick, sitting in a lawn chair wearing all black clothing and a face mask, police said. He was detained and later arrested.
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East Brunswick police assisted with a drone to search for additional suspects. Officers found tools near the man's home and discovered an attempted break-in at a shed window, police said.
Police impounded two vehicles from the parking lot of Ireland Brook Park and Greenwich Court — a black BMW 328 and a silver Honda Accord.
A 17-year-old New Brunswick boy was arrested on Riva Avenue. The juvenile was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary and released awaiting a court appearance.
Diaz-Escobar faces seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary. He is being held at the Middlesex County jail awaiting a court appearance.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Jamal Benbow at 732-329-4000, ext. 7443, or Detective Brian Luck at 732-329-4000, ext. 7475.
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