Alarm Tampered With in Nearby Home Burglary

Chatham Township Police said a Sandy Hill Road resident returned from vacation on Sunday, Oct. 7 to find his home had been burglarized.

Surveillance cameras captured four individuals on Oct. 6 forcing in the front door to the residence, police said.

Immediately after the thieves entered, the home's alarm and video surveillance system were disabled, and for that reason a signal was never relayed to the police department, according to police.

At the time the home owner filed the police report, an undetermined amount of jewelry had been reported stolen, police said.

Based on video footage and methods employed by the burglars, the four individuals appear to be the same group that has been very active in the area, according to police.

There have been reports of burglaries in Randolph, Morris Township, Chatham and the Somerset Hills area, police said. Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine sent a letter to residents regarding the recent spree.

Mendham Borough police chief Pat Libertino told residents to lock their doors and set their alarms, as some homes were being hit (one across the street from the Mendham Borough Police station) while the residents were out running errands. 

And although Libertino said the recent string of burglaries were the work of a gang or multiple gangs, there has been no evidence to tie the thefts to the theatrically named "James Bond Gang," which plagued residents three decades ago. According to officials, that gang operated in the 1980s and were known to drive expensive foreign cars that were modified with rotating license plates.

Mendham Township Police Chief Steve Crawford asked for residents' help in stopping the burglaries.

In Chatham, anyone with information on this burglary is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-377-6928.

Police issued safety tips to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglaries:

• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, use automatic timers to turn lamps on in the evening and off during the day.
• Have adequate exterior lighting. Motion-sensitive lights are recommended where feasible.
• Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers, dry cleaning, packages, notices or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.