Police Probe Edison Home Invasion That May Be Linked To Others In Middlesex County
EDISON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- An Edison, New Jersey family remained shocked and terrified Friday, following a home invasion that police said may be connected to a series of violent break-ins in Middlesex County.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, Rajesh Singh said three armed masked men forced their way into his home on Netherwood Circle as his wife took out the trash just before midnight Thursday night.
He said the intruders then bound Singh, his wife and their kids with duct tape and put them out on the kitchen floor.
"Whatever you want, take it and go," Singh recalled saying. "Just don't hurt anybody."
Those words were all Singh could think of as the masked men held him at gunpoint, using duct tape to tie him up along with his wife and three children – the youngest just 3 years old.
"My daughters were sleeping but they pulled them down also and tied them up also," Singh told 1010 WINS' Al Jones.
The trio then ransacked the home, taking jewelry, cash and other items, Singh said.
"They just did our house upside down basically," Singh told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
Police Probe Home Invasion In Edison
He said police got word about half an hour later, quickly swarming the house.
"I'm really concerned," said neighbor Prasun Chakravarty. "This kind of incidents -- I think, going up -- have been increasing in this area."
It's the latest in a rash of similar incidents in Middlesex County in less than two weeks, where prosecutors said South Asian-Indian families appear to be the target.
In each case, two or more masked men with handguns enter the homes through rear entrances before tying up the victims and ransacking the homes, prosecutors said.
Prior to Thursday's incident, the most recent home invasion happened Tuesday in South Plainfield. A family of five was targeted and the gunmen took jewelry before running off, prosecutors said.
Another recent break in happened to a man in Old Bridge, who asked not to be identified. He told CBS2 three masked suspects with guns broke into his house, tied up his wife and son with duct tape and made him give up cash and jewelry.
Six days earlier, police said the same thing happened to a family in another section of town.
Police Probe Home Invasion In Edison
"They entered via the back of the house, they broke their way in, they had handguns and they demanded the money," said Capt. Robert Weiss, Jr. of the Old Bridge Township Police Department. "Once they got the money from everyone there and they had searched the house, they then left."
As CBS 2's Matt Kozar reported, the victims of one of the home invasions on Timber Grove Court in Old Bridge did not want to talk about what happened. But her neighbor says several families on the block are scared."
"Seven out of 13 homes are now wired with ADT," said Cassandra McLean of Old Bridge. "We all have kids. We're all worried."
Another woman, who asked not to be identified, lives across from the home invasion in Edison. A victim herself two years ago, she said the suspects single out their community for a reason.
"This is our religious holiday. We just went through Diwali -- it's a big, big holiday just like you have Christmas," she told CBS2's Burrell.
Private investigator Dan Coleman said South Asian families are targeted in particular because they might have gold.
"Especially the South Asians, and Indian families, tend to use gold as part of their religion; as a part of their culture," Coleman said.
Coleman investigated similar burglaries as a detective with the Morris County Prosecutor's office.
"These particular crimes that we're seeing now are much more planned out," he said. "They know people are going to be home."
"Indians, they purchase gold, jewelry," added Chakravarty. "It's part of the celebration."
As detectives canvassed for clues, Singh said he's grateful his family was spared.
"We are the ones to be unlucky people it happened to," he said. "Thank God we were not hurt."
Singh said his wife ended up with a minor back injury, but said his children weren't hurt.
"They were kind enough not to hurt anybody," he said. "I'm OK with whatever they took. Nobody's hurt. That's what mattered to me."
Police said residents should remain alert and keep their lights and security systems on, even when they are home. Singh said his house does not have an alarm system, but that may change after the ordeal.
Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County is offering a cash reward to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest in the case. Crime Stoppers can be reached at (800) 939-9600, by going to middlesextips.com, or by texting 274637 and entering "midtip" followed by a message.
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