Accused SJ Serial Burglars Who Hit Haddonfield Indicted on 96 Charges

A well-organized pair of alleged serial burglars who stole more than $2 million worth of items from upscale homes across South Jersey, including Haddonfield, have been indicted on 96 counts by a Burlington County grand jury, according to authorities.

The grand jury returned the indictments against Darius H. Gittens, 54, and Geoffrey V. Petit, 48, both of Medford, last week, according to a release from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Gittens and Petit burglarized 25 homes between October 2011 and August 2012, according to investigators, hitting homes in Haddonfield, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Evesham, Medford and Voorhees. Police said the pair targeted secluded homes in upscale neighborhoods, often near a golf course or wooded lot where there were minimal views from surrounding properties.

The burglars often broke in, when no one was home, by smashing a rear sliding door and, once inside, cut phone and alarm wires and monitored emergency communications using a police radio, according to authorities.

Gittens and Petit are accused of setaling more than $2 million worth of jewelry, watches, furs, coins, crystal, silverware, handbags, guns and electronics over their 10-month burglary spree.

A number of law enforcements agencies formed a task force to investigate the crimes, and a break came after DNA from one of the defendants was found on a flashlight left behind during one of the Moorestown burglaries. Authorities put the suspects under surveillance and, after analyzing more than 9,000 phone calls and text messages, arrested Gittens and Petit in September. 

More than 500 stolen items were recovered—some of them buried in one of the defendant’s yards and others hidden in an abandoned building in Philadelphia, authorities said.

“This was a very complex investigation,” Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi said. “The tenacity and perseverance shown by the investigators who worked this case was tremendous. It was outstanding police work and the residents in the towns where these burglaries occurred should feel thankful that these law enforcement officials are on the job.”

Both defendants were released after posting bail, which was set at $150,000 for Gittens and $230,000 for Petit. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Burlington County Superior Court.

An indictment, in which a grand jury considers the evidence in the case, is a determination that there is enough evidence to move forward with the prosecution.

Gittens was indicted on:

• three counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking (second degree)
• Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons - Pellet Gun (second degree)
• Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons - .357 Revolver (second degree)
• Burglary (second degree)
• Unlawful Possession of A Weapon (second degree)
• 22 counts of Burglary (third degree)
• 16 counts of Theft By Unlawful Taking (third degree)
• nine counts of Conspiracy (third degree)
• Criminal Attempt Burglary (third degree)
• Unlawful Possession of A Weapon (third degree)
• 24 counts of Criminal Mischief (fourth degree)
• nine counts of Possession of Radio to Intercept Emergency Communications While Attempting to Commit A Crime (fourth degree)
• Criminal Attempt Burglary (fourth degree)
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon - Stun Gun (fourth degree)
• and Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons - Stun Gun (fourth degree)

Petit was indicted on:

• Theft By Unlawful Taking (second degree)
• nine counts of Conspiracy (third degree)
• nine counts of Burglary (third degree)
• five counts of Theft By Unlawful Taking (third degree)
• nine counts of Possession of Radio to Intercept Emergency Communications While Attempting to Commit A Crime (fourth degree)
• seven counts of Criminal Mischief (fourth degree)
• Impersonating a Public Servant or Law Enforcement Officer (fourth degree)
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon - Stun Gun (fourth degree)
• and Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons - Stun Gun (fourth degree)

Information provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.