2 Burglars Picked Union Since Residents 'Don’t Lock Doors:' Cops

UNION, NJ — Lock your car doors. That is the message Union Police are telling residents after the township was reportedly targeted for being known as not locking their doors.

Two men were arrested and charged on Sunday night for burglarizing multiple unlocked vehicles in the township.

One of the men arrested admitted to police "that they chose to come to Union because they know many people don’t lock their car doors."

"This problem is not unique to Union, but does have an easy solution," police stated. "Also we have seen an increase of cars warming up that were stolen. Don’t leave your car unattended while warming up unless you have the keys with you and the car is locked."

A resident on Minute Arms Road called 911 on Nov. 25 at about 10 p.m. to report someone went into his parked car and rummaged through it.

A neighbor's surveillance camera captured three suspects as they left the area, Union Township Police reported.

While officers searched the area they found other unlocked cars that had been burglarized.

Akmid Henderson, 18, of East Orange on Huntington Road was found on Huntington Road by Officers Chris Connors and Elijah Carter.

When Henderson saw the officers, he reportedly dropped a backpack and walked away from it. This backpack contained items that appeared to have been stolen from car burglaries, police reported.

Engelbel Bonano, 22, of Elizabeth was found on Galloping Hill Road by Officers Antoine Colbert and Luis Santiago. Bonano was reportedly in possession of a pair of Uggs boot that were stolen from another victim in the area.

Both Henderson and Bonano were arrested and charged with the burglaries to several unlocked cars. They both had prior arrest warrants and were sent to the Union County Jail pending a custody hearing.

Bonano also matches the description of someone who was caught on surveillance pulling on car door handles over the summer in the area of Kean University, police reported.

The lead detective for this investigation is John Oliveira. Anyone with information on this or any other crime, is asked to contact the detectives at 908-851-5030.

"We ask that residents lock their car doors when they park their cars. We have periodic waves of motor vehicle burglaries that can be prevented by simply locking the car doors," Union Township Police stated.

(Image via Township of Union NJ Police Department: Akmid Henderson, 18, of East Orange and Engelbel Bonano, 22, of Elizabeth)

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