Video captures suspects break into Sayreville home amid surge of robberies

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Video captures suspects break into NJ home amid surge of robberies
Toni Yates has more from the homeowner in Sayreville.

SAYREVILLE, New Jersey (WABC) -- There are new details about a disturbing pattern of home break-ins in Sayreville after new surveillance video captured another incident.

Police in Sayreville said they were urging residents to be vigilant amid a surge in the residential burglaries.

The victim, who asked to be only identified as Julia, said a group of men broke into her home on Jan. 5 even though she had an alarm system, two Ring cameras and two large dogs.

It was early on a Sunday morning and her entire family was inside at the time.

Several cameras captured their quiet intrusion as they snapped a window screen, using a crowbar to force the window up, all while glancing back at their getaway car. Two of them shimmied the third suspect inside.

"I heard what sounded like furniture moving and that's when I realized somebody was in the house," Julia said. "So I screamed, running down the hallway, woke my husband up. He got up with the bats, you know, started making noise to come to the steps to deter them and get them out of the house as quick as possible."

Officials believe the suspects were after the family's high-end vehicle and were likely looking for the key fob.

"At that time, we didn't know how many people were in the house, then my husband saw only one of them running from the living room out," Julia said. "And at that point he screamed, you know, got down there. Then he went around the house to make sure that there was nobody else in there."

The family reached out and shared their experience as a warning to other homeowners about the brazen criminals.

The uptick in break-ins has prompted police and lawmakers to call for stricter penalties for juveniles committing these crimes.

Many times the suspects get away empty-handed, but that is no solace to the victims when the safety and security of their home is violated.

"This is trauma, if I could prevent any other family from going through what we did, that's all worth it," Julia said. "You know what I mean? Because it's it's really sad and terrifying that this is the world we live in where criminals can basically just run amok and do what they want."

To reduce the risks of being targeted, officials recommend setting home and vehicle alarms, keeping homes brightly lit, don't leave vehicles running unattended, and move valuables to a secure place that is out of sight.

And if anything seems suspicious, contact the police at (732) 727- 4444.

ALSO READ | Homeowners warning of terrifying burglaries in Essex County while families are sleeping

Toni Yates has more on the investigation into a home invasion in Caldwell.

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