A New Milford, New Jersey man has been arrested for the second time in three weeks for crimes involving burglary and theft. Police believe the man may be responsible for a number of car burglaries that have apparently occurred around the area since late last year. He was first arrested on May 20 after allegedly breaking into cars in the parking lot of the Dorchester apartment complex. At the time of that arrest, a juvenile accomplice was also apprehended and is now subject to juvenile crime charges.
After his release on that charge, police allege he returned to the scene of the crime and used the same M.O. On Sunday, June 10, he was arrested again when a resident reported a car alarm in the parking lot of the same apartment complex. As with the first incident, the 26-year-old man and an accomplice allegedly ran from the scene after the police found a car window that had been smashed with a rock. A witness provided a description of the men seen running from the scene, and police claim the description matches that of the New Milford man.
The suspect was arrested again and charged, this time with third degree burglary and theft. He was taken to the Bergen County, New Jersey Jail and a bail of $10,000 was set pending another court hearing. His alleged accomplice in the second break-in has not been found.
The man's first arrest resulted in charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, hindering apprehension, and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime. In the second arrest, he has been charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief; however, it was not reported if police believe there was evidence of a juvenile crime in the second incident.
While the accused man understandably faces a tough road ahead, the prosecution also has its work cut out for them. The burden of proof of "beyond a reasonable doubt" in a criminal proceeding rests entirely upon the state, and it is no secret that eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable. As to the second incident, the prosecutors may have to rely on the ability of witnesses to convince a jury that the description of the individuals they provided were indeed accurate.
Source: New Milford, NJ Patch, "Attempted Car Burglary Results in Suspect's Second Arrest," Ann Piccirillo, June 13, 2012
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