K9 Pursuit Ends With Burglary Suspect Arrest In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Local and county authorities used a K-9 team to track down an alleged car burglary suspect on Wednesday morning, according to the Morris County Sheriff's Office.

Morris County Sheriff’s Office Detective Marc Adamsky and his K-9 partner, Tim, tracked the suspect to the Crestview Avenue area of Madison Borough, police said.

The suspect, identified as Thomas Rivera, a 20-year-old male from Jersey City, was found with keys to a vehicle that had been burglarized earlier this morning in Madison.

According to authorities, the investigation began on Wednesday, when all units were dispatched to the Noe Avenue neighborhood of the Borough of Madison after an individual was observed acting suspiciously.

“This criminal activity is too prevalent in our communities. Potentially dangerous individuals are frequently attempting to victimize good people. I am so pleased to see our partnerships working together and succeeding; all with the resolve of keeping us safe,” Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

The sheriff’s K-9 Section is a shared service used by all Morris County municipalities to assist in finding missing people, suspects, narcotics, explosives and indications of arson.

"I would like to commend the law enforcement officers on the scene for a job well done. The fine police work is a testament to the strong partnership that we have between our Morris County agencies," Madison Borough Police Chief John R. Miscia said.

Earlier this summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration designated July as National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. This month is expected to see a significant increase in car thefts, as it has in the previous two years.

According to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, July has traditionally been the busiest month for auto thefts.

Morris County accounts for 1.1 percent of all stolen vehicles in the state. So far in 2023, 72 percent of vehicles stolen in Morris County have been left unlocked. Popular vehicles targeted by thieves include BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Honda.

"A great number of cars stolen in Morris County were taken because the key fob was left inside. We implore residents not to allow criminals to take advantage of their forgetfulness – get into the routine of taking your fob with you when you park. Alarmingly, there have been instances of thieves using garage door openers to access homes, potentially setting up a confrontation with residents," Carroll said.

Law enforcement is reminding the public to help by taking precautionary measures to secure their homes, garages and vehicles.