Prolific Tri-State Burglary Suspect Arrested, Jailed In Morris

NORTH JERSEY - A prolific burglary suspect that had been under investigation for more than a year in three states by multiple agencies was arrested over the weekend, according to the Sussex County Detective’s Association.

According to authorities, Patrick Ryan, 30, of Fairfield, Conn., buglarized numerous residents throughout the tristate area including locations in:

• Franklin Borough
• Hardyston Township
• Lafayette Township
• Sparta Township
• Vernon Township
• Wantage
• Rockaway Township
• Butler
• Kinnelon
• Chester
• Boonton Township
• Franklin Lakes
• Warren Township
• Warwick, NY
• The Town of Goshen, NY
• Greenville, NY
• The Town of Chester, NY
• The Town of Campbell Hall, NY
• Minisink, NY
• The Town Of Wallkill, NY
• The village of Florida, NY
• New Canaan, Conn.
• New Milford, Conn.
• Greenwich, Conn.

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Ryan was apprehended by officers as a result of a multi-jurisdiction investigation. Ryan was in possession of several victim’s personal property as well as specific tools utilized while committing these burglaries, police said.

As a result of this investigation a multitude of stolen property was recovered, including:

• Shotgun
• Crossbow
• Nine handguns
• multiple handbags and purses
• multiple credit cards
• personal identifications
• cash
• burglar tools
• large amount of gift cards

When Ryan was arrested Saturday night, New Jersey authorities had a warrant for Ryan's house in Fairfield but did not have jurisdiction, so Fairfield police obtained a warrant and conducted a search and seizure Sunday at the home at 41 Longview Ave. to claim any stolen property, Lt. Antonio Granata of the Fairfield Police Department told Patch.

The FPD is currently itemizing over 100 stolen items seized from the home, and will work with New Jersey agencies to determine whether possession of stolen property charges will come from Fairfield or the community from which the item was stolen. Possession charges as related to the items seized from Fairfield are at least a month away, according to Granata. Among the stolen property seized in Fairfield were eight firearms, but FPD cannot yet release details about the other items.

"There are a slew of towns that are involved and a slew of victims from those towns," Granata said.

Several additional items were located and seized as a result of executed search warrants to the vehicle Ryan was driving and within his home.

Burglaries involving Ryan are dated back to August 2020 through January 2021 and he would commit these crimes in the early morning hours between midnight and 7 a.m., police said.

According to authorities, Ryan is currently on probation in Connecticut for similar crimes.

Franklin Borough, Hardyston Township, the New Jersey State Police, Sparta Township, and Vernon Township Charged Ryan with numerous crimes to include:

• 74 counts of Burglary to a Motor Vehicle
• 13 counts of Criminal Mischief
• 51 counts of Theft of Movable Property
• Seven counts of theft of a credit card,
• One count of unlawful possession of a firearm
• One count of Burglary while in Possession of a Firearm

Numerous agencies over the tristate area assisted in the multi jurisdictional investigation over the past six months including:

• Franklin Borough Police Department
• Hardyston Township Police Department
• New Jersey State Police
• Sparta Police Department
• Sussex County Gangs Guns and Narcotics Task Force
• Sussex County Prosecutors Office
• Vernon Police Department
• Rockaway Township Police Department
• Butler Police Department
• Kinnelon Police Department
• Chester Police Department
• Boonton Township Police Department
• Franklin Lakes Police Department
• Warren Township Police Department
• Warwick NY Police Department
• Goshen NY Police Department
• Carmel NY Police Department
• New York State Police
• Chester NY Police Department
• Orange County NY Sheriff’s Department
• Fairfield Police Department Conn.
• Connecticut Office of Probation

Several more charges are pending for Ryan in numerous jurisdictions throughout the tristate area, officials said, noting that Ryan was being held at the Morris County Jail.

Police said Ryan’s girlfriend, Chelsea A. Russell, 29, from Fairfield Conn., is also being investigated for her involvement in these crimes.

This story contains reporting by Anna Bybee-Schier

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