South Brunswick Police: Man Arrested In Mid-Day Burglary

A 19-year-old pizza shop manager drove to a South Brunswick neighborhood, removed the Papa John’s sign from the roof of his car, and then tried to break into a home, police said.

He was arrested at gunpoint by police as he tried to leave the scene Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Brandon Barbato of South Brunswick was charged with burglary, possession of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a news release from Capt. James Ryan:

At 12:47 p.m., police received a 911 call from a Matthew Avenue resident, who said someone was trying to break into her home.

She told police she heard the doorbell, then saw a man - later identified as Barbato - walk to the back of her house and try to open a window.

The woman was home alone.

Sgt. Roger Tuohy and Officer Brady Shelcusky arrived within minutes.

When they did, they found Barbato talking to the woman’s husband, who had just arrived at the house and did not know his wife had just called police.

Police took Barbato into custody without incident.

Police determined that Barbato, who manages a Papa John’s pizza shop, drove to the cul-de-sac, then removed the pizza shop’s sign from the roof of his 2000 silver Ford Taurus.

Police believe he targeted the home because it was the only one in the area without a vehicle in the driveway and because the newspaper was still laying outside. He did not realize anyone was home.

Barbato walked to the front door, rang the doorbell twice, then moved to the back of the house, where he tried to push open the kitchen and living room windows.

Barbato was sent to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick, where he was held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing.

Photos courtesy South Brunswick police