Off-Duty Cop, Retired Deputy Chief Father Help Catch Burglary Suspect For NJ Neighbor

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — An off-duty South Brunswick police officer and his father, a retired deputy chief, teamed up on Friday to help catch a burglary suspect in West Windsor.

At 1:12 p.m. on Friday, the West Windsor Police Department Communications Center dispatched patrol officers to a reported home burglary in progress on South Post Road.

The burglary was reported after a resident received an alert indicating that his burglary alarm (glass breaking) was activated, police said.

After receiving the alert, he requested that his neighbor, retired South Brunswick Deputy Chief J. Stoddard, check the perimeter of his home.

Stoddard and his son — South Brunswick Police Officer Daniel Stoddard, who was off-duty at the time — teamed up to conduct a check of the home and saw that a back bedroom window had been broken.

Retired Deputy Chief Stoddard then called 911, and while waiting for police to arrive, he and his son saw the suspect leaving the home through the broken window.

After being told to stop by Officer Stoddard, a chase on foot began, police said. The suspect ran into Mercer County Park and entered a 2007 Silver Hyundai Santa Fe that was parked in a lot near the soccer fields.

Officer Stoddard captured a photo of the suspect and vehicle to include the vehicle’s license plate and gave that photo to the responding officers, police said.

The suspect then fled by driving onto the soccer fields through the park and onto Old Trenton Road. Once patrol officers arrived, it was believed that the suspect fled into Robbinsville Township.

After a bulletin was issued, Robbinsville police officers found the vehicle on U.S. Route 130 South, where they tried to conduct a motor vehicle stop; however, the vehicle then fled onto 195 West.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the registered owner of the vehicle lived on Monmouth Street in Trenton, police said.

After undercover officers saw the suspect vehicle pull into the driveway of the home and saw a person matching the suspect’s description exit the vehicle and enter the home, authorities maintained a perimeter around the house for four hours before the suspect left and turned himself in.

The suspect, identified as Miguel A. Vargas, 37, of Trenton, was taken into custody, and a search warrant executed on the home revealed evidence of the burglary as well as possible proceeds from an unrelated burglary, police said.

Vargas was charged with second-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief, according to authorities.

“An officer is never truly off duty or retired. This was excellent work by a father–son team who have served our community for decades,” South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. “Their quick actions led to the capture of this burglar. They represent the best of our department.”