Jets center Nick Mangold calls 911 after Chatham car break-in, helps end crime spree

CHATHAM, N.J. (WABC) -- Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold usually protects the New York Jets quarterbacks, but now he's being credited for protecting his New Jersey community after making a 911 call when he spotted thieves trying to break into his cars.

That call, placed at 5:30 a.m. on August 23, helped to end a crime spree involving 48 burglaries of unlocked cars, concentrated in Chatham Township and Chatham Boro.

Mangold called 911 after hearing his car alarm and finding his garage door open. Madison police stopped a vehicle in the area and took five suspects into custody.

Several residents on Oak Street were targeted, and for two nights last weekend, the thieves were looking for anything they could steal.

On Main Street, a variable message sign was reminding residents to lock their car doors at all times, and residents received text messages alerting them to the spree.

Calling 911 right after a crime seems automatic, but sometimes people wait or react slowly. But in this case, Mangold jumped into action, leading to the arrests of two adults and three juveniles.

Richard W. Isaacs, 19, of Orange, and Leonard Watts, 18, of Newark, face charges including burglary and theft. They were being held on $50,000 bail.

The three juveniles, all of Essex County, also were charged with burglary and theft. One was held at Morris County Juvenile Detention Facility and the other two were released to their parents.