Burglar Breaks Into South Brunswick Home, Flees After Homeowner Confrontation

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - A burglar forced his way into a Beekman Manor home early morning on Wednesday, stealing car keys before dropping them on the front lawn and fleeing after being confronted by the homeowner, South Brunswick police said.

Officers responded at approximately 4:20 a.m. to Terrier Place after a 911 caller reported a male breaking into his home. The man had forced entry through a rear door and taken a set of car keys from the kitchen before the homeowner confronted him at the front door, causing him to flee on foot. The keys were recovered on the front lawn, and nothing was ultimately stolen, police said.

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Surveillance footage provided by the homeowner shows the suspect approaching the rear of the home wearing dark-colored pants, a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark gloves, and carrying a pry tool. A nearby resident's surveillance footage also captured a dark-colored vehicle dropping off the suspect shortly before the burglary, police said. The vehicle could not be further identified.

A search of the area failed to locate the suspect or the vehicle. Minutes after the incident, a neighboring agency reported a separate residential burglary involving a dark-colored vehicle, authorities said.

South Brunswick police believe the incident is connected to similar burglary attempts in neighboring jurisdictions during the same timeframe. Edison police reported two men attempted a residential burglary around 3:30 a.m. and fled in a red Hyundai Elantra. North Brunswick police pursued a stolen black Hyundai Sonata into Newark at approximately 4:45 a.m.; the vehicle was later confirmed stolen from Newark.

Residents can expect an increased police presence in the area. The investigation has been assigned to the department's Detective Bureau.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to contact Det. Brian Luck at 732-329-4000 ext. 7475.

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