By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County announced the arrests of Jose Cabanzo-Pena, 28, of Queens, NY, and Luis Eduardo Pena-Garzon, 32, of Queens, NY.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said on June 24, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., detectives and patrol officers became aware that a vehicle associated with Cabanzo-Pena and Pena-Garzon had entered Bernards Township and was at Mountain Park, Bernards Township, NJ.
Officials stated that the investigation revealed that both men had been targeting parks throughout Somerset County and New Jersey for motor vehicle burglaries.
Bernards Township detectives and patrol officers, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Task Force and Hillsborough Township Police Department, initiated surveillance at the park, officials said.
Officials say both suspects were observed walking in the park and subsequently departing in the suspect vehicle, a 2011 GMC Acadia.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that, as a result of the ongoing investigation, the suspect vehicle was stopped by officers, and the authorities detained both men.
A Somerset County Superior Court-ordered search warrant was obtained for the vehicle, authorities say.
According to officials, the search resulted in the discovery of proceeds from a motor vehicle burglary that occurred at Mountain Park on June 24th.
In addition, officials say, other evidence was found connecting Cabanzo-Pena to additional motor vehicle burglaries and thefts at Mountain Park on May 10th and May 20th.
Authorities say defendant Cabanzo-Pena was arrested and charged with third-degree Burglary of a motor vehicle, third-degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (three counts), third-degree Theft by Deception, fourth-degree Credit Card theft (three counts), and Theft, disorderly person offense.
Officials said the defendant Pena-Garzon was charged with 3rd-degree burglary of a motor vehicle, 4th-degree credit card theft and theft, and disorderly persons offense. Both defendants were charged on complaint warrants and lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
On July 17, 2024, the Hillsborough Police Department also charged defendant Pena-Garzon with Theft by Deception, disorderly persons offense (3 counts) for thefts that occurred at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough on May 8, 2024, and June 10, 2024, according to officials.
Officials say that on July 17, 2024, defendant Cabanzo-Pena was charged by the Hillsborough Police Department with Theft by Deception, disorderly persons offense (2 counts) for thefts that occurred from the Sourland Mountain preserve on October 19, 2023, and November 8, 2023.
Both defendants were charged on summons and provided with a court date to appear on the charges, officials stated.