Burglary suspects allegedly targeted Asians
Phone books were used to find potential victims, police say
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer

Eugene Napolitano

Three South Brunswick burglary suspects may have let their fingers do the walking to find potential targets, according to police.

Police have charged Brian Laurenzo, 30, Jersey City, with burglary, theft, and possession of stolen property after police allegedly found jewelry, cash, phone books, gloves and a pry bar in his orange Honda Civic Monday.

Police also charged Johnny Pierantoni, 27, Jersey City, with conspiracy to commit burglary.

South Brunswick police spokesman Detective Jim Ryan said Tuesday that the pair and another man, Eugene Napolitano, 39, South Brunswick, are suspected of involvement in as many as 16 burglaries in the township and neighboring municipalities since May 10.

Brian J. Laurenzo

Napolitano is still being sought by police.

According to Ryan, the trio were charged in connection with a burglary at a Royal Oaks apartment on Rebecca Court on Monday afternoon.

In addition to the items recovered from the car, an index card with 42 addresses in South Brunswick was also found.

Upon further investigation, police believe that the burglars used phone books to target homes to rob.

Johnny Pierantoni

"The majority of homes were ethnically targeted and were Asian Indians," Ryan said.

Ryan said the suspects are believed to have targeted this group because they believed that the homes would "have the best jewelry."

Ryan said that the burglaries took place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and usually involved prying open a door or window to gain access to the homes.

In at least two instances, Ryan said, the burglars were scared off because of security systems in the home.

The men were apprehended after a witness to a burglary on Friday took photos of the car and notified police.

The police then placed the area under surveillance looking for the vehicle.

Ryan said the men were pulled over as they left the Royal Oaks complex at 1:25 p.m.

According to Ryan, Laurenzo owned the vehicle and was charged with presenting a fictitious insurance card to police at the scene.

Napolitano was initially allowed to leave the scene because police did not have a reason to hold him, Ryan said.

When police went to his home later to arrest him in connection with the burglary, he had already fled.

"We are searching for him as we speak," Ryan said.

Police Chief Michael Paquette said that the department will work with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office to determine if the men could be charged with committing a bias crime for allegedly targeting a specific ethnic group.

"It is not the first time in South Brunswick that an ethnic group has been targeted," Paquette said.

Many of the items that were recovered by police have yet to be identified, according to Paquette.

Paquette said that people who have been the victims of a recent burglary should contact police to see if the items recovered belong to them.

"Many of the items may never be recovered," Ryan said, explaining that police believe that the men used pawn shops in New York City to get rid of stolen items quickly.

Paquette said that members of the Asian community should be on special alert for any suspicious activity, and call police as soon as they observe something.

"It is better to be safe than sorry," Paquette said.

Napolitano is described as a white male, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

Police are asking anyone with information on this case to call the detective division at (732) 329-4000, extension 448.