Resident reports rent money stolen by intruder
By jennifer kohlhepp
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK — A local resident was robbed of his rent money and cut with a pocket knife in his home early Monday, according to police.

Livingston Avenue resident Herve Byron, 37, was reportedly tied up for almost 45 minutes in his basement apartment after an intruder robbed him at knifepoint of $1,200 at 5:19 a.m., according to police reports.

Police said when they found Byron at 6 a.m. he had small cuts on his left arm and "was holding his right forearm and complaining of pain."

Byron told police he went outside to smoke a cigarette and left his apartment door open. When he returned to his apartment, he told police, he found "a 5- foot-10-inch black male wearing a large coat," according to police.

The intruder had a gun and demanded money, according to police reports.

When Byron refused to give the intruder money, the man allegedly cut him with a pocket knife with a 3-inch blade. Byron then told the intruder his rent money was located in an envelope on a nearby card table, according to police.

Police said the attacker took the money and, before fleeing, duct taped Byron to his black leather reclining chair.

The pocket knife and duct tape the assailant used were items Byron said he kept in a basket under the card table, according to police.

Police said Byron was free of the duct tape when they arrived at the scene. He refused medical treatment, according to police.