NYC Suspects Charged with Burglarizing Cars at Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Two suspects from Queens, New York face several charges in connection with car burglaries at the Sourland Mountain Preserve parking lot, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, who announced the arrests in conjunction with other similar incidents in Bernards Township.

Jose Cabanzo-Pena, 28, of Queens, NY, and Luis Eduardo Pena-Garzon, 32, of Queens, NY also face multiple charges for car burglaries in Mountain Park, Bernards Township.

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An investigation that had begun in May focusing on the two suspects determined they had been targeting parking lots in parks throughout Somerset County and New Jersey, according to McDonald.

On the morning of June 24, a police task force conducting surveillance spotted a car with the two suspects at Mountain Park. Bernards Township detectives and patrol officers along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Task Force, and Hillsborough Township Police Department followed the suspects' car and initiated a traffic stop.

The suspects were detained while police obtained a Somerset County Superior Court ordered search warrant. The search resulted in the discovery of proceeds from a motor vehicle burglary that occurred at Mountain Park on June 24th. In addition, other evidence was found connecting Cabanzo-Pena to additional motor vehicle burglaries and thefts at Mountain Park on May 10th and May 20th, according to McDonald.

Cabanzo-Pena was arrested and charged with 3rd degree, Burglary to a motor vehicle, 3rd degree, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (3 counts), 3rd degree, Theft by Deception, 4th degree, Credit Card theft (3 counts), and Theft, disorderly persons offense.

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Pena-Garzon was charged with 3rd degree, Burglary to a motor vehicle, 4th degree, Credit Card theft and Theft, disorderly persons offense.

On July 17 Pena-Garzon was also charged by the Hillsborough Police Department with Theft by Deception, disorderly persons offense (3 counts) for thefts that occurred at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough on May 8 and June 10; Cabanzo-Pena was charged by Hillsborough Police Department with Theft by Deception, disorderly persons offense (2 counts) for thefts that occurred on Oct. 19, 2023, and Nov. 8, 2023, from the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Both defendants were charged on summons and provided with a court date to appear on the charges.

McDonald commended the collaboration by the two police departments and the prosecutor's office.

"This is an excellent example of collaboration, coordination, and persistence shown by Bernards Township officers daily to keep the township safe," McDonald said. "Also, investments in public safety technology authorized by Bernards Township Mayor Jennifer Asay and the Township Committee contributed to the ability of the police department to apprehend these criminals targeting the township."

McDonald requests anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office
Burglary Task Force at (908) 231-7100 the Bernards Township Police Department at (908) 766- 1122 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at (908) 369-4323 or via the STOPit app.

The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential.

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