Westfield Police Charge Man In Connection With Car Burglaries

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield police announced Wednesday that they have arrested a New Brunswick man in connection with several car burglaries on the south side of town Tuesday morning.

Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro announced that police charged Frank L. Ferraro, 29, with two counts of receiving stolen property and a count of being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police say they arrested Ferraro at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday on Lamberts Mill Road near West Broad Street, and that the charges were "related to" vehicle burglaries on Bates Way.

Police say they responded on Tuesday to a report of a person who appeared to be unsteady on his feet while walking and in need of apparent assistance.

Upon arrival in the area, they saw the suspect "walking in a staggered manner on the front lawn of area residences," according to police. "While conducting an investigation of Ferraro’s welfare, he was determined to be in possession of drug paraphernalia."

A further search of Ferraro’s person disclosed he was in possession of two wallets belonging to two different residents of Bates Way, police said.

Officers Ryan Weiss and Frank Moya further investigated, leading to Ferraro's charges.

The Westfield Police Department subsequently documented two vehicle burglaries on Bates Way and one on Willow Grove Parkway, they said. All of the vehicles were reportedly left unlocked at the time they were burglarized, police said.

Ferraro was transported to the Westfield Police Department where he was processed and released on his own recognizance after being served with a summons.

Anyone with information related to any of the above incidents, particularly any associated video footage, is asked to contact Detective Robert Desiato of the Westfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau by telephone at 908-789-6084 or by e-mail @rdesiato@wpdnj.org.

Police had sent an alert out Tuesday morning asking residents if they had video related to car burglaries on Bates Way and Willow Grove Parkway. READ MORE: Westfield Police Seek Information Related To Car Burglaries.

Other recent car burglaries

The arrest of Ferraro came two days after Westfield police arrested a Newark teen in connection with a separate string of car burglaries on Sunday. READ MORE: Westfield Police Make Arrest After Car Burglary Suspect Crashes Into Patrol Car

The Westfield police have arrested several groups out-of-town teenagers over the last year in connection with car burglaries, including three 16-year-olds in ski masks arrested on March 30.

Battiloro and other area law enforcement officers have reminded residents to lock their cars. Battiloro also has discussed what the town has done to address auto burglaries.

Want to be the first in your town to get Westfield breaking news alerts, or a daily morning newsletter of news in your town? You can sign up for Patch alerts and/or a free a daily digest of news here: Sign up and choose your preferences.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.