4 In Burglary Spree In Monmouth, Middlesex, 7 Other Counties: AG

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Four suspects are behind a spree of 84 home invasions/burglaries across the state in the past year, and some of the break-ins occurred in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, according to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

The 84 total burglaries all took place between October 2020 and March 2021, in eight different New Jersey counties: Morris, Bergen, Essex, Somerset, Passaic, Monmouth, Middlesex and Union, as well as lower New York state.

The crimes were similar to each other, with burglars forcing their way in through a door, usually in the afternoon and early evening, said the Attorney General. They would then steal cash, jewelry and other items from the master bedroom and other areas in the home.

Well over half a million dollars in cash, jewelry and other valuables were stolen in total in the 84 burglaries.

In one of the instances, in Englewood, the homeowner was threatened with what appeared to be a gun, said police. On Dec. 23, 2020 in Englewood one of the suspects was confronted by the homeowner and the suspect made a motion with his hand inside his sweatshirt as though he had a gun and saying, “I’ll shoot you.” Nobody was injured.

The four people arrested are Keith Perry, 38, of Teaneck, Porsche Brown, 29, of Lodi, Kay Brown, 23, of Paterson, and Gregory Lewis, 37, of Teaneck. They face several charges, including second-degree conspiracy and third-degree burglary. They could get five to 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000 for the former.

After Perry was involved in a car accident in Hackensack on March 17, 2021, investigators obtained a search warrant for the Mercedes-Benz GL 450 he was driving and found proceeds from one of the burglaries in the car. On Feb. 12, Porsche Brown used a pawn shop in Vineland to pawn a significant amount of jewelry that is being investigated as suspected burglary proceeds, said police.

While the Attorney General did not list all the specific towns that were hit, the AG did say these police departments are involved in the prosecution of the home invasions:

• Bedminster Police Department
• Berkeley Heights Police Department
• Bernardsville Police Department
• Boonton Police Department
• Bridgewater Police Department
• Cedar Grove Police Department
• Clarkstown (N.Y.) Police Department
• Clinton Township Police Department
• Englewood Police Department
• Fairview Police Department
• Glen Rock Police Department
• Hackensack Police Department
• Haledon Police Department
• Harrington Park Police Department
• Holmdel Police Department
• Little Falls Police Department
• Livingston Police Department
• Madison Police Department
• Manalapan Police Department
• Marlboro Police Department
• Milburn Police Department
• Monroe Police Department
• Montclair Police Department
• Montville Police Department
• North Caldwell Police Department
• North Haledon Police Department
• Northvale Police Department
• Paramus Police Department
• Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department
• Pearl River (N.Y.) Police Department
• Randolph Police Department
• Tenafly Police Department
• Totowa Police Department
• Warren Township Police Department
• Washington Township Police Department (Bergen County)
• Watchung Police Department
• Wayne Police Department
• West Orange Police Departmen
• Woodcliff Lake Police Department
• Wyckoff Police Department.

“Every agency involved with this investigation understood that it was paramount that we identify and apprehend the members of this ring," said NJ State Police Director Patrick Callahan. "Because their willingness to commit these crimes while homeowners were present demonstrated that they were prepared to engage in confrontation, which could easily have escalated into violence."

"Much credit also should be given to Cedar Grove Police Officer Dominick Buscio," added Chief Christopher Kiernan of the Verona Police Department. "While on diligent patrol, Officer Buscio heard the transmission of our burglary in progress and located the suspect vehicle traveling through Cedar Grove, thereby securing a critical piece of evidence. These efforts and the teamwork of all of the participating agencies ultimately led to the successful arrests of those responsible for numerous burglaries throughout the state.”

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