Lawrence Cops 'Aggressively Pursuing' Leads in Recent Crimes; Three New Burglaries Reported This Weekend

In the wake of the recent rash of burglaries and thefts that have occurred in Lawrence Township – including three new burglaries reported this past weekend – Lawrence Police Chief Daniel Posluszny has assured Lawrenceville Patch that township police are diligently working to catch those responsible for the crimes.

“The Lawrence Township Police Department is committed to protecting the public and stopping these crimes,” the chief said in a statement released Monday afternoon.”The department has increased patrols and is aggressively pursuing all possible leads to solve these offenses. The department is well aware the concern of residents and business owners and I assure you that the department is doing everything possible to solve these crimes and prevent further crimes.”

The new burglaries were reported on Saturday (Sept. 17), according to police department spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar.  Two men were arrested in connection with one of the burglaries, he said.

Edgar identified those two suspects as Chester E. Rogers Jr., 49, of Home Avenue in Trenton, and Marvin P. Rogers, 52, of Marion Avenue in the Bronx, N.Y. It was not immediately clear if the two are related.

The two were charged with burglary after police found them inside the former Hibbert’s Automotive Services building in the 1100 block of Spruce Street Saturday morning, Edgar said.

He said police received a call at 11:16 a.m. Saturday reporting a possible burglary in progress there. The caller, he said, reported seeing a silver pickup truck pull up on the property, followed by a man climbing through an unlocked window.

Responding officers found both men inside the building and, after confirming they had no legitimate business they, took them into custody, Edgar said. He said detectives are working to determine if the men might have had any involvement in any of the other recent burglaries and thefts in town.

Also on Saturday at 8:40 a.m. police received a call from a 60-year-old resident of Valley Forge Avenue reporting that someone had entered his unlocked shed and stolen a red Huffy bicycle worth $60 and an Echo backpack leaf blower valued at $250, Edgar said.

He said the victim believed the burglary took place between 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 16) and about 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

The third new burglary occurred on Mabel Avenue. Edgar said a 42-year-old resident there called police at 12:55 p.m. Saturday to report that $750 worth of property – including two bicycles and a lawnmower – had been stolen from his unlocked shed sometime earlier in the week.

Edgar noted that several thefts were also reported over the weekend, including the theft of three mountain bikes – worth about $145 in total – from a residence in the 900 block of Mulberry Street. A resident called police at 8:30 p.m. Sunday to report that someone had entered his fenced-in yard and removed the three bikes belonging to his sons sometime over the last few days, he said.

Edgar echoed the police chief’s comments by saying that police have stepped up patrols and are hard at working trying to solve the recent crimes. He noted that some of the recent burglaries and thefts occurred to homes, businesses and vehicles that had been left unlocked by their owners.

He said the public can help police prevent crimes by keeping their property locked and secured, and also be keeping alert to suspicious activity.

“Obviously, the police can’t be on all streets all the time,” Edgar said. “If you see someone acting suspiciously, please call the police immediately.”

Posluszny requested the same: “I ask that all residents please contact the Lawrence Township Police Department at [609] 896-1111 if they witness anything suspicious or, in the case of an emergency, dial 911. Also, all residents are reminded to lock their vehicles, sheds and homes at all times.”

Last Thursday (Sept. 15), about .

That burglary came on the heels of two other burglaries and an attempted burglary that occurred in less than 24 hours over the course of last Wednesday and Thursday morning.

In those crimes, a hammer was stolen after someone broke into the enclosed rear porch of a home in the 1500 block of Ohio Avenue; someone smashed out a window and entered the Sunoco gas station in the 1700 block of Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) but nothing appeared to have been stolen; and someone shattered the glass doors and windows in an unsuccessful attempt to enter Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs restaurant on Princeton Pike.

Lawrence Township police are also investigating a recent burglary on Bakers Basin Road during which about $10,000 worth of property was stolen, as well as .  

In speaking to Lawrenceville Patch, Police Chief Posluszny provided statistics for so-called “index crimes” in Lawrence Township for this year (through Monday, Sept. 19) and the preceding 10 years. These are the same statistics the township submits to the New Jersey State Police and the FBI for the annual Uniform Crime Report.  

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT

Crime Statistics

Offenses

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011*

Homicide

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Rape

5

7

5

6

1

3

13

9

10

3

3

Robbery

41

33

28

18

17

27

19

19

19

19

21

Assault

221

248

214

200

235

161

159

175

148

151

132

Burglary

248

157

137

159

118

127

96

110

96

93

72

Larceny – Theft

890

865

775

883

885

843

730

735

656

717

598

MV Thefts

185

102

81

77

57

47

52

46

31

16

17

Arson

2

4

2

5

3

7

4

8

14

9

2

Total

1593

1416

1242

1348

1316

1215

1073

1102

974

1008

845

(* through Sept. 19, 2011)

Full text of Lawrence Police Chief Daniel Posluszny's statement issued Monday (Sept. 19):

Recently, the Township has witnessed an increase in burglaries and thefts targeting different areas of the Township. These burglaries have been observed to include commercial and business establishments, residences and vehicles. The Lawrenceville Patch has worked in conjunction with the Lawrence Township Police Department to provide accurate and up to date information to all residents and business owners to keep them aware of these incidents.

The Lawrence Township Police Department is committed to protecting the public and stopping these crimes. The Department has increased patrols and is aggressively pursuing all possible leads to solve these offenses. The Department is well aware the concern of residents and business owners and I assure you that the Department is doing everything possible to solve these crimes and prevent further crimes.

I ask that all residents please contact the Lawrence Township Police Department at 896-1111 if they witness anything suspicious or in the case of an emergency, dial 911. Also, all residents are reminded to lock their vehicles, sheds and homes at all times.