Man Breaks Into Local Businesses, Steals Alcohol: South Brunswick PD

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A 62-year-old man broke into several local businesses, stole alcohol and threatened to shoot an employee before being apprehended, South Brunswick Police said Monday.

Bruce Thompson recently moved to South Brunswick from Florida and was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of criminal mischief, and one count of terroristic threats. Thompson’s crime spree lasted for 90 minutes, police said.

The incidents took place on Sept. 25. They started 9:30 a.m. when police were called to the Riya Plaza on Route 27 for a dispute. A man told police he was doing work in the area when a white male approached him and threatened to shoot him. When officers arrived, the suspect had already left the area.

At 10:50 a.m. officers got a call of a break in to the VFW Post 9111 on Henderson Road. A witness reported someone leaving the area on a bicycle.

As Officers Robert Halmi and Collen Murphy were responding to the burglary, they observed a male on a bicycle on Henderson Road and Route 1. The man was holding a Corona Extra beer bottle, and had a cut on his hand, police said.

The man, identified as Thompson, was questioned by police when other officers went to the VFW Post.

There they determined that the suspect had broken into the VFW Post by smashing a side window, since blood was found on the ground near the window. Once inside, the suspect rummaged through a cash register and stole alcohol. One of the alcohol bottles stolen was a Corona Extra.

While at the VFW Post, officers were approached by a business owner across the street – D'Bella Salon. She told police someone had attempted to burglarize her salon.

Officers found damage to the salon’s window and a rock near the damaged window. The officers found blood on the ground and a Corona Extra bottle cap. Officers determined the Corona Extra bottle Thompson was holding and the bottle cap had come from the VFW Post, police said.

Video obtained from Riya Plaza showed Thompson threatening to shoot the worker, police said. While at the strip mall, officers were approached by the owner of FC Tacos and Catina. The owner also reported someone had smashed a side door attempting to gain entry to the business. Detectives later linked Thompson to the attempted burglary, police said.

Chief Raymond Hayducka credited the witness and the team work of the officers with making the arrest.

“It is coordination by officers and cooperation by the public that stopped this one-man crime spree,” said Hayducka.

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