Woodbridge Resident Stops Thief, Holds Him 'Till Police Arrive, Cops Say

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Woodbridge homeowner stopped an Edison man while he was rifling through his van, police said, and held the man until cops arrived.

The incident happened last Saturday, Sept. 9 on Forrest Street in the Iselin section. The homeowner said he watched a man go into his unlocked van at about 6 a.m. and root around in it for cash and other items. When the homeowner approached the man, he tried to run off, but the homeowner and another family member grabbed him. They held him until police arrived. He had loose change from their car and items from another person, who has not yet been identified, police said.

Amit Makwana, 37, of Dayton Drive in Edison was charged with two counts of burglary, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property and theft. Woodbridge police think he is the same person who broke a glass window in the basement suite of an office building on Rt. 27 on Sept. 6.