By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County announced the arrest of Rodrigo A. Lopez, 42, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Edison Jimenez-Castro, 35, of Manville, and Andres Moncaleano,30, of Elizabeth, in relation to two residential burglaries that occurred in Franklin Township and Hillsborough in October 2024.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald stated that on Friday, October 18, 2024, at approximately 9:52 p.m., officers from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to a report of a residential burglary to a residence located on Second Street in Franklin Township.
Upon their arrival, it was determined that entry was made to the residence through a broken window on the second floor. Video surveillance depicted a vehicle in the nearby area at the time of the burglary, Somerset County officials said.
According to Somerset County officials, the residents reported jewelry, coinage, and artwork taken from the residence. Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to the scene to investigate.
Prosecutor McDonald stated on Friday, October 25, 2024, at approximately 8:19 p.m. officers from the Hillsborough Township Police Department responded to a report of a residential burglary to a residence located on Brennan Way in Hillsborough.
Upon their arrival, officers observed broken glass in the second-floor rear window of the home, SCPO authorities say.
SCPO officials stated that video surveillance depicted two individuals running from the residence and entering a vehicle that appeared to be similar to the vehicle observed in the area during the Franklin Township burglary on October 18, 2024.
The homeowners reported jewelry and coinage missing from the residence. Detectives from the Hillsborough Township Police Department responded to conduct the investigation, according to Somerset County officials.
Prosecutor McDonald said that the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit conducted a joint investigation with officers and detectives from the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the Franklin Township Police Department into the reported burglaries.
It was determined that the residential burglaries involved the coordination of several individuals and the use of two vehicles, SCPO officials say.
The investigation identified three individuals involved in the Franklin Township and Hillsborough Township residential burglaries: Rodrigo Lopez, Edison Jimenez-Castro, and Andres Moncaleano, Somerset County officials stated.
Accordig to Somerset County officials, on Wednesday, February 5, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Task Force along with members of the Hillsborough Township Police Department, Franklin Township Police Department, South Brunswick Township Police Department, Manville Police Department, and Bridgewater Township Police Department arrested Rodrigo Lopez without incident in Bridgewater.
Somerset County authorities said that on the same date, Edison Jimenez-Castro was arrested in Manville without incident.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that Rodrigo Lopez was charged with two counts of 2nd degree Burglary, two counts of 2nd degreeConspiracy to Commit Burglary, one count of 2nd degree Theft, one count of 3rd degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, one count of 3rd degree Theft, and two counts of Possession of BurglaryTools, a disorderly person’s offense.
Somerset County officials said that Edison Jimenez-Castro was charged with two counts of 2nd degree Burglary, two counts of 2nddegree Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, one count of 2nd degree Theft, one count of 2nd degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, one count of 3rd degree Theft, one count of 3rd degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, and two counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, a disorderly person’s offense.
Defendant Lopez and defendant Jimenez-Castro were both lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing in this matter, SCPO officials say. 
Prosecutor McDonald stated that the following charges: two counts of 2nd degree Burglary, two counts of 2nd degree Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, one count of 2nd degree Theft, one count of 2nd degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, one count of 3rd degree Theft, one count of 3rd degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, and two counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, a disorderly person’s offense were authorized for Andres Moncaleano and a complaint warrant was issued; however, detectives were unable to initially locate Moncaleano.
According to Somerset County officials, on Tuesday, February 11, Andreas Moncaleano was arrested without incident in South Brunswick by members of the South Brunswick Police Department.
He was lodged in Middlesex County Jail pending a court hearing in this matter, SCPO authorities said.