Husband and wife allegedly steal, sell jewelry from Somerset County senior living facility
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A husband and wife have been arrested in relation to thefts that occurred at a senior living facility in Bridgewater Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Prosecutor McDonald said that in January 2024, detectives assigned to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit began to investigate items of jewelry that were being sold in Somerset County for cash.
As part of this investigation, it was determined with the assistance of officers from the Bridgewater Township Police Department, that two items of jewelry that were sold for cash had been reported stolen by residents of a local senior living facility located in Bridgewater Township, in August of 2023 and in February 2024, McDonald said.
Detectives were able to identify additional victims residing at the same senior living facility who also had items of jewelry stolen, many of which were not reported to the police, McDonald said.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that between May 2023 and February 2024, Ana Rios, 40, of Piscataway stole items of jewelry that belonged to residents of the senior living facility where she worked as a housekeeper, McDonald said.
Rios would then turn the stolen items over to her husband, Ezequiel Rios, 43, of Piscataway to sell in exchange for cash. It is estimated that jewelry stolen by Ana Rios then sold by Rios or her husband held a street value estimated at $45,000, McDonald said.
On Monday, April 8, Ana Rios, and Ezequiel Rios were arrested without incident in Piscataway, McDonald said.
Ana Rios was charged with third-degree theft, and third-degree conspiracy to commit theft. Ezequiel Rios was charged with third-degree receiving stolen property, and third-degree conspiracy to commit theft. Both were released pending a court hearing, McDonald said.
