Rash Of Violent Break-Ins In Northern N.J. Targeting Jewelry, Cash
WAYNE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of burglaries across Bergen and Passaic counties have residents on edge.
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The break-ins are violent. Burglars are smashing sliding glass doors and quickly walking off with jewelry and cash, reports CBS 2's Christine Sloan.
Stewart Resmer's sliding back door is boarded up after burglars didn't discriminate against his Wayne home.
"The jewelry case had been left behind but emptied. The master bedroom drawers had been pulled out," Resmer said.
The brazen suspects also broke into another house on his street. Resmer said at his home the burglars stole $40,000 worth of jewelry belonging to his wife.
"I think this was very sophisticated and organized. They took three homes in a two-block area and they did it in a very methodical way," Resmer said.
Police are beefing up patrols. There have been dozens of break-ins across northern New Jersey, including incidents in: Wanaque, Bloomingdale, Saddle Brook, Ramsey and Ringwood.
All had the same M.O.
"Definitely forced entry whether they're using their shoulder or some kind of tool to break the windows," Ramsey Police Chief Bryan Gurney said.
Nine burglaries have occurred Ringwood alone. Police there have charged two suspects with several of the break-ins. Investigators said they got into homes by smashing sliding glass doors, but after their arrests more burglaries were committed in the same manner.
Police are warning residents to be cautious.
"Keep your lights on. Make the house look like it's lived in," Chief Gurney said.
The Ringwood suspects were caught in Wayne. Police wouldn't say if they had stolen goods on them or if they're connected to any other crime.
Police in Saddle Brook said they have had three burglaries. In one incident, $30,000 in jewelry was stolen.
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