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Five local teens have been charged for a brazen burglary of a Rumson home during the Hurricane Sandy-induced power outage, borough police reported Thursday.
The arrests of two juveniles and three adults, all from Rumson and Fair Haven, is the latest development in a case that had vexed local officials because it sparked an unfounded rumor of post-storm looting, police Chief Scott Paterson tells redbankgreen.
“There was just this one incident, but it made it problematic for us,” he said.
Arrested and charged with third-degree burglary and theft were Zachary Slootsky and Emily Garrison, both 18 and both of Fair Haven, and Luke Jacobs, of Rumson, also 18. Two 17-year-olds, one male and one female, one from Rumson and one from Fair Haven, were also charged, Paterson said.
The burglary, of a home on Buena Vista Avenue, occurred sometime overnight between October 31 and November 1, the earlier date just two days after the hurricane paralyzed the region with flooding and power outages.
It was clearly an opportunistic crime, with lights and alarm systems knocked out, Paterson said. “The storm was a factor, and they took advantage of that, definitely,” he said.
Investigation by Detective Christopher Isherwood, with help from police in Neptune City, led to the arrests and the recovery of about $9,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables, Paterson said.
The arrests were carried the last week, and all the defendants were released on low bail or their own recognizance, Paterson said.
UPDATE, December 9, 2020: The above charges against Emily Garrison were dismissed and ordered expunged from court records after a plea and completion of pre-trial intervention in September, 2015.
