Police: Multiple Vehicle Burglaries Tied to East Orange Man

An automated license plate reader led Cranford Police to detect a stolen vehicle on North Avenue East Wednesday and connected the driver to multiple burglaries in town, Police Chief Eric Mason said.

Shawn Love Jr., of East Orange, was arrested and charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property, according to Cranford Police.

Patrolman Derek Farbenec detected a 2007 Toyota Prius reported stolen out of Montclair using the automated license plate reader at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday. Cranford Police when crossing the Gordon Street Bridge into Roselle stopped Love and arrested him.

Several GPS devices were found inside the vehicle, as well as cellular telephone, police said.

“Detectives Robert Montague and Ryan Greco were able to tie Love to multiple vehicle burglaries in Cranford, including several on Beech Street and in Municipal Lot No. 7 behind Sofi’s Color Lounge,” Mason said in a release.

Detectives were also able to connect Love to additional burglaries in Linden on Sept. 28.

Love was charged with receiving stolen property (the vehicle) and two counts of each burglary and theft related to the Cranford incidents, according to police. He is being held at the Union County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

“As technology improves and our ready access to information expands,” Mason stated. “New tools such as the ALPR, in the hands of experienced and capable officers, should help us deter, detect and ultimately solve a significant number of crimes in our community."