WATCHUNG BOROUGH, NJ (Somerset County) – An Essex County man has been arrested in connection to a residential burglary that occurred earlier this month in Watchung Borough, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald,
Randolph C. McLeod, 42, of Irvington was charged with second-degree possession of a handgun without obtaining a permit, third-degree burglary, third-degree theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools, McDonald said.
On Tuesday, December 6, at around 1:26 a.m., police responded to a residence on Johnston Drive for a reported residential burglary. Responding Officers observed evidence of forced entry at the residence and learned that the victim responded home to numerous items missing from a safe in the residence, McDonald said.
Detectives from the Watchung Police Department responded to investigate along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation revealed that McLeod was allegedly a suspect in the residential burglary. Then a search warrant was conducted on his residence and vehicle in which proceeds from the residential burglary were located and seized, McDonald said.
McLeod was arrested on Dec. 6 and then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes/Burglary Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Watchung Borough Police Department at 908-756-3663 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 will be kept confidential.
