South Brunswick Police Arrest Teen Who Was In Woman's Home

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Last month, we reported how a South Brunswick woman came home from work one Tuesday afternoon and encountered a burglar in her Monmouth Walk home. When the male suspect heard the woman come home, he ran downstairs, broke through a rear screen door to get out and fled through her backyard.

Now today, South Brunswick police say they've apprehended the person who was inside the home that day. It is a 17-year-old local juvenile.

“It was an unusual burglary in the middle of the day with no obvious forced entry," said Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "It required interviews with neighbors and good crime scene processing to develop evidence that led to the suspect’s capture. We appreciate all the residents who reviewed their surveillance systems and called to provide information.”

At about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 police were called to a home on Heather Court in the Monmouth Walk development off Rt. 522.

Initial Patch report: Woman Walks Into Burglary At South Brunswick Townhouse Tuesday

The resident said she came home from work at around 2:30 p.m. that day and heard a noise upstairs, but did not think much of it. A few minutes later while eating in her kitchen, she heard a second noise and became concerned. The resident stepped out front of her home and called 911 from her front lawn with her neighbor also outside with her.

Both residents observed a man on the second floor of her home looking out the window at them. The male suspect ran downstairs, broke through a rear screen door and fled. He was described as a dark-skinned man with a thin build wearing a red shirt.

South Brunswick police officer Brooke Labell, a crime scene technician, photographed and dusted for fingerprints at the home. She was able to develop latent fingerprints from where detectives believed the suspect made entry into the home. Detective Rick Delucia submitted the prints to the New Jersey State Police and the unit matched one of the prints to a 17-year-old juvenile.

Detective Delucia charged the juvenile with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was taken into custody at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. In addition to the burglary charges, he was in possession of alcohol and was charged with underage possession, said police.

Detectives believed the juvenile was familiar with the home and broke in looking to steal some headphones when he was interrupted by the homeowner. The juvenile was released to a parent pending his first appearance in Family Court.