New York City duo charged in Somerset County car burglaries

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP – Two New York City men have been charged in connection with car burglaries at two Somerset County parks.

Jose Cabanzo-Pena, 28, and Luis Eduardo Pena-Garzon, 32, both of Queens, were arrested June 24 in Mountain Park after an investigation found they had been targeting parks in Somerset County for motor vehicle burglaries, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

Cabanzo-Pena was charged with third-degree burglary to a motor vehicle, three counts of third-degree fraudulent use of a credit card, third-degree theft by deception, three counts of fourth-degree credit card theft, and a disorderly persons count of theft in connection with motor vehicle burglaries at Mountain Park on May 10, May 20 and June 24.

Pena-Garzon was charged with third-degree burglary to a motor vehicle, fourth-degree credit card theft, and a disorderly persons count of theft, stemming from June 24 burglary.

Both suspects were also arrested by the Hillsborough Police Department on June 17 for thefts at the county's Sourland Mountain Preserve on East Mountain Road.

Pena-Garzon was charged with three counts of theft by deception and three disorderly persons counts of theft at the preserve on May 8 and June 10.

Cabanzo-Pena was charged with two counts of theft by deception and two disorderly persons counts of theft between Oct. 19, 2023 and Nov. 8, 2023 at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

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On June 24, detectives and patrol officers were alerted that a vehicle associated with Cabanzo-Pena and Pena-Garzon had entered Bernards Township around 8:30 a.m and was at Mountain Park.

Police began surveillance at the park as the duo was seen walking through the park and then leaving in the vehicle they had arrived in, according to the prosecutor's office.

Because of the ongoing investigation, the vehicle was stopped and both men were detained, McDonald said.

After obtaining a search warrant from a Somerset County Superior Court judge, police searched the vehicle and found proceeds from a motor vehicle burglary that day along with evidence connecting Cabanzo-Pena to additional motor vehicle burglaries and thefts at Mountain Park on May 10 and May 20, according to the prosecutor.

The investigation and park surveillance were coordinated by Bernards Township detectives and patrol officers along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Task Force, and Hillsborough Township Police Department.

McDonald commended the entire process, saying that the arrests are “an excellent example of collaboration, coordination, and persistence shown by Bernards Township officers daily to keep the township safe.”

He also added that recent investments in public safety technology by Bernards Township Mayor Jennifer Asay and the Township Committee were crucial in apprehending the suspects.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked 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. 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 will be kept confidential.

Contact: EMannello@mycentraljersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New York City duo charged in Somerset County car burglaries