Suspect arrested in spree of more than 50 New Jersey burglaries
MONTCLAIR, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey man was under arrest in connection with a burglary spree involving more than 50 homes since last year.
Saveon Hayles, 29, formerly of Montclair, was arrested Monday in Jersey City.
Hayles is charged in 18 burglaries and four attempted burglaries in Montclair. He is also charged with theft.
There were several scares along the way for homeowners, after one reported seeing the suspect walking through his upstairs hallway as he lay in bed. Another homeowner spotted the suspect run out a rear door.
Some $400,000 in cash and jewelry was stolen during the burglaries.
Police say Hayles ran when approached by detectives Monday and fled through various backyards before he was caught. No one was injured in the chase.
"Upon seeing us, he took off fleeing through backyards, fences," Montclair police Chief Todd Conforti said. "He was caught, I believem, several blocks from his residence."
Police say he was not subtle in his break-ins.
"He would use force sometimes, kicking in back doors or using a tool to get in," Conforti said. "Or he would take advantage of houses that were unlocked, get in as soon as possible, stealing jewelry, cash, and wallets, and getting out as fast as possible."
Police say they are continuing their investigations to tie him to more of the burglaries in which they believe he was a participant.
Some of the jewelry stolen was found and returned to victims, while much of it was sold at pawn shops.
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