Woodbridge Police: Man Broke Into Two Township Homes, Had A Stun Gun

Woodbridge police arrested an Elizabeth man who they say broke down the front door of a home in the Iselin section of town, then ran away when he realized the resident was inside.

Police said the man also burglarized an apartment in the same neighborhood, and when they caught him, he had a pillowcase containing jewelry that had been stolen from that home.

He also had a stun gun, police said.

Robert Griffin Jr., 48, of East Grand Street, Elizabeth, was charged with two counts of burglary, and one count each of criminal mischief, possession of prohibited weapons and devices, possession of a stun gun, theft, hindering apprehension or prosecution, and unsworn falsification to authorities. He was also wanted on seven outstanding contempt of municipal court warrants from other jurisdictions: Plainsboro, Trenton, Lawrence, Elizabeth and Hamilton.

According to a news release from Capt. Roy Hoppock:

Around 10:40 a.m., March 24 police were called to a Tyler Avenue home in the Iselin section of town.

A man - later identified as Griffin - had knocked down the front door, but ran away when he spotted the resident.

A short time later police caught Griffin in driveway of the nearby Georgian Arms apartment complex at 785 Green St., and he had a pillowcase filled with jewelry.

Around 3:15 p.m. that day, police were called to an apartment in that complex, where the resident reported that the home had been burglarized between 7 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Police determined that the burglary occurred that morning because the jewelry in the pillowcase had been stolen from that apartment.

Griffin was sent to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, with bail set at $75,000.