Three Suspects Charged in Series of Commercial Thefts

Michael Odincov, 36, and Clifford Proctor, 35, both of North Brunswick, were charged last week with burglarizing two construction sites on three different occasions in May and June. Police said the pair targeted storm drain and manhole covers from unfinished streets

Anthony Durbin, 26, of South Brunswick, was charged separately in connection to a dozen metal thefts from commercial vehicles throughout the township, according to police.

South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said the suspects allegedly stole the items in order to buy drugs.

According to police, Odincov and Proctor allegedly stole $10,000 worth of manhole covers and storm drains from the unfinished Northumberland Way off Route 1. An investigation by Detective Ken Herman and Detective Roger Tuohy, along with North Brunswick Police Detective Mike Sauvenie, determined that the suspects also allegedly stole in excess of $50,000 in equipment from construction sites on both Route 535 and Executive Drive.

Police said a search of the suspects' residence recovered much of the stolen property. Authorities were then able to track down stolen manhole covers that were stamped South Brunswick and OBMUA from a scrap yard in Edison.

According to police, the employees at the scrap yard thought the suspects selling the items were suspicious, but they did not alert authorities. Both Odincov and Proctor are being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick in lieu of $50,000 bail.

In a series of separate thefts, Durbin was charged after police identified a pattern of thefts where catalytic converters were cut from parked commercial trucks along Route 1, Route 130 and Route 27 during the overnight hours. 

In May, police sent out an alert after eight vehicles had their catalytic converters cut out with a hacksaw. Each of the vehicles was located in a parking lot outside of a business.