A 23-year-old Plainfield man and alleged serial burglar has been charged with a 12th break-in, this time in Union Township.
According to police, on Jan. 12, Union police responded to a Winfield Terrace home for a report of a burglary.
Upon arrival, officers determined that jewelry and coins were among the items stolen. Forensic evidence at the scene led police to identify 23-year-old Dawud Ward, as the suspect.
Ward's previous releases have several police departments frustrated with new bail reform system, which evaluates a defendant's prior criminal history to decide whether to have a person held in jail to await trial.
Ward had been charged with at least 11 burglaries in New Jersey and four in Virginia.