Hazlet Police Arrest Suspect Believed Responsible for Several Local Thefts

Hazlet Police believe they may have caught a suspect today who may be responsible for several thefts from cars throughout the area, according to Chief James Broderick.

Kevin Cunningham, from Middletown and believed to be in his twenties, was questioned by patrol officers, who received a report of a suspicious person at around noon Thursday, according to Chief Broderick. The area in which the suspect was walking was the scene of two recent thefts from unlocked vehicles. Cunningham is alleged to have been found with items reported missing recently, and was placed under arrest.

Chief Broderick says there has been around two reports a day since Sunday regarding thefts from vehicles, some of which were unlocked.

“People leave change visible in the cup holders, and even checks and check books, and then leave the car unlocked, because Hazlet is a good town where you feel you can do that still,” Chief Broderick said. “We have been asking residents lately to secure their valuables at all times to avoid these types of incidents.”

Cunningham is current being held at Hazlet Township Police Headquarters, with officers and detectives still processing and taking inventory of the items the suspect was found in possession in. Chief Broderick says that many of the items Cunningham has been found in possession with have not been reported stolen - yet.

“We have been getting calls that may have come in a few days after the theft occurred,” Chief Broderick said. “A resident may leave a credit card clipped to their car’s visor, and not realize it’s been stolen until they go to use it to get gas. We highly advise locking your vehicle if you must leave important items in your car.”

Detectives and officers have been looking at the thefts reported over the last few days, and had a suspect in mind when the call of a suspicious person was made to police, Chief Broderick said. Cunningham is expected to be charged with close to fifteen counts of theft.

An update will be made available after police finish the investigation.

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.