Police in Mendham Borough NJ are looking for a suspect in a recent theft from a local residence.
The theft occurred while the residents were away from their home, which is located on Gunther Street in Mendham, New Jersey.
At the time of the alleged theft, several contractors were inside the house and working on various tasks. Although it is unclear if one of the workers committed the theft, Mendham NJ investigators have not ruled out the contractors as possible suspects.
The suspect reportedly got away with a number of valuables, including jewelry, collectible coins, and other items. The total value of the stolen items is said to exceed $5,000.
According to Mendham Borough Police Department detectives, the stolen items had been left in a closet inside the house and were “unsecured.” Moreover, there was reportedly no lock on the closet door that might have stopped the culprit from getting inside and stealing the expensive items.
At this time, law enforcement is investigating the theft incident and trying to determine who was responsible for the disappearance of the valuable items from the victims’ home.
If police can eventually figure out who stole the possessions, it is likely that the culprit would face criminal charges for theft of movable property. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, theft of property valued at more than $500 is classified as a third degree felony. A conviction for third degree theft of movable property could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
At this time, police do not believe that the person who stole the items broke into the residence. As a result, it is unlikely that the culprit would face charges for burglary under N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.
The Mendham Borough Police Department has cautioned local residents to always make sure to keep their valuable items stored “in a secure location,” which means that they should be hidden and locked away. Additionally, indicated a statement issued by Mendham NJ police, local residents need to think about storing valuables in safes that are bolted to a wall or to the ground, which can make it harder for criminals to remove the safes. Finally, said Mendham police, try to “keep an eye on your contractors” when they are inside your residence.
For further information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “More Than $5K in Jewelry and Coins Stolen from Mendham Home.”
