Car Burglar Caught In Westfield: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ – A 21-year-old Elizabeth man was arrested and charged with burglary after a series of incidents on Saturday, Sept. 7, according to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

Torrance Q. Williams Jr., 21, of Elizabeth, was charged with the third degree crime of burglary and criminal attempt – burglary, which occurred shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday, Battiloro said.

Williams was also charged with credit card theft, which is a fourth degree crime, police said.

Battiloro said that Williams was observed by patrol officers attempting to gain entry into unlocked vehicles parked in the area of Maple and Harrison Avenues. Battiloro credited the investigative efforts of Officers Robert Desiato, Jr. and Richard Gill, who were assigned to a special plainclothes patrol detail aimed at detecting and identifying vehicle burglary and theft suspects.

Williams was processed at the Westfield Police Department on the above stated charges and subsequently released on his own recognizance pending a mandatory court appearance on Sept. 20 in Superior Court.

The criminal charges were approved by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

“The Westfield Police Department is working hard to combat property crimes,” Battiloro said. “But our residents must do their part,” he added. “These crimes will not stop if we continue to leave our vehicles unlocked at night and make ourselves such easy targets for theft. Follow the #9PMRoutine.”

Anyone with further information related to these vehicle burglaries is asked to contact Detective DaSilva at 908-789-6085.

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