The Alternative Press

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Three residential burglaries Friday evening have police searching for suspects who shattered sliding glass doors and ransacked bedrooms.

Police Chief Michael Mathis said all three burglaries occurred just after sundown when the suspect or suspects broke through rear sliding glass doors. Police found nothing near the doors that would indicate what was used to break the glass.

In each of the cases, the burglars ransacked the bedrooms and stole jewelry. Police said laptops, cameras and cash were in plain view but not taken, indicating the suspects moved quickly.

In one home, the suspect(s) moved a sofa from a sitting area and pushed it against the front door of the residence in what police say was an obvious attempt to keep the residents from entering the front door while the suspect(s) escaped out the back.

Mathis said there were two additional burglaries in a neighboring town that occurred around the same time. Police searched the surrounding areas but have no substantial leads.

The three latest burglaries bring the total in Berkeley Heights to five so far during 2012. There were six total during 2011.

"I ask our residents to serve as additional eyes and ears and to report any unknown persons, vehicles or unusual activity in your area as soon as possible to the police," Mathis said. "Always try to obtain as much descriptive information about the person (i.e. gender, clothing description, build, etc.) or vehicle (plate number, color, make model, description of occupants) as you can, without alerting the possible suspects or jeopardizing your own safety."

Mathis said the Berkeley Heights Detective Bureau is using all its resources to locate any leads to identifiy the suspect(s). Patrol officers are on high alert.

Anyone with any information on these burglaries, or who observes anything suspicious, is asked to call the police department at 908-464-1111.