Three Burglaries Reported in Bernards Last Weekend

Bernards Township Police are investigating three burglaries that occurred between Saturday afternoon or evening into Sunday morning in three sections of the township. In two cases, small items such as jewelry were taken, and in the third, the homeowner encountered the intruder, who then ran out of the home.   

Police on Monday said that those whose homes had been burglarized still were working on determining what is missing. "We would like to get the word out for people to call us when they see anything suspicious," said Bernards Police Capt. Ed Byrnes.

Between 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, police said an unknown person or persons forced entry through a rear window of a townhome on Princeton Court in the southern end of the township. The home was unoccupied, according to police.  

The burglar or burglars took cash from a wallet and jewelry from the master bedroom, the police report said. No estimate of the value or description of the jewelry is available at this time.

In a second incident, an unknown burglar or burglars forced entry to a rear door of a home on Culberson Drive between noon on Saturday and 11:40 a.m. on Sunday. That home also was unoccupied, police said. 

Jewelry was take from the master bedroom, police said. No estimate of the value or description of the jewelry is available at this time, according to police.

Police also reported that at 9 p.m. on Sunday an unknown male forced his way into the rear window of a home on Allegheny Drive. The residents were at home and in the bedroom, the police report said.

Police said the homeowner came out of his bedroom and confronted the intruder, who ran from the house.

Police said nothing was taken before then. The description of the intruder given to police was a male approximately six feet tall, of medium build, wearing a black ski cap and carrying a flashlight. 

Anyone with information is requested to contact Detective William Seiple or Detective Michael Sweeney of the Bernards Township Police at 908-766-1122. 

Police are asking residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the department immediately. Residents often are the department's best resource for deterring and solving burglaries, according to a release from the police.

Police are suggesting a few crime prevention tips that may make it less likely residents will become a victim of burglary or theft. In each case this past weekend, the homes that were broken into appeared to be unoccupied, police noted.

Police advise.

§  Always lock your residence at all times. Thieves will often target unlocked residences.

§  Utilize motion lights on the exterior of your home.

§  When on vacation, stop newspaper and mail delivery. Newspapers in the driveway or an overflowing mailbox, suggest no one is home.

§  Put lights and televisions on timers or delay switch when not home.

§  Keep the grass cut when away for extended periods of time.

§  Keep detailed records and inventory of all valuable possessions. Have photos available of items like jewelry and antiques. Keep records of manufacturers, model, and serial numbers for valuable electronics. 

§  Do not leave empty trash or recycling containers in front of the house for long periods of time.

§  If possible leave a vehicle or vehicles in the driveway to make the home appear occupied.

§  If you see anything you believe to be suspicious, call the police department and ask that the person or situation be checked. Good neighbors report unusual activity, according to police.