Metuchen police apprehend suspect in burglaries
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

METUCHEN - The keen eye of an area resident led to the arrest of a 49-yearold Edison man, who allegedly was found in possession of over 150 stolen items that he admitted he stole over the past several months from Edison and Metuchen residences, including recent Christmas decorations that were stolen in the borough.

Albert Mota, of Albert Avenue, was arrested and charged with theft on Dec. 26, police said.

"The [area resident] called police after he read local newspaper accounts of the thefts and saw someone who fit the description of the person described in the accounts decorating his front lawn and saw the person's truck that also fit the description," said Patrolman David Liantonio.

According to police reports, holiday decorations were taken from two Carpenter Place and three Ethel Place residences between 9:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 2:58 p.m. Dec. 16.

Awitness observed a 5-foot-8-inch-tall, dark-skinned male wearing a khaki hunter-like jacket put a polar bear and full-size sled decoration valued at $350 from a Carpenter Place residence into a white sport-utility vehicle between 12:55 a.m. and 1:32 a.m. Dec. 16, police said.

"We had to bring an 18-foot box truck to pick up the items," said Liantonio. "We collected items inside and outside of Mota's residence, such as wicker furniture, lion and gargoyle statues, gnomes, a flag pole, along with Christmas decorations."

Liantonio said due to the press coverage ofMota's arrest, people have been calling in to recover their lost items.

Any possible victims in Edison can call Detective Alan Engel at (732) 248-7523 and any possible victims in Metuchen can call Detective James Connolly at (732) 632-8501.