NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD) announced that detectives arrested eleven people in the early morning hours on February 11, saying that they were involved in a series of four different after-hours burglaries of city stores in the past month.

“In each instance several suspects would approach the glass door or window of a convenience store and throw a large object, usually a brick or cinder block through the window allowing access to the store,” reads the NBPD press release.

City police characterized the burglaries as “smash and grab” jobs, and indicated the suspects stole “scratch-off lottery tickets and in some instances cigarettes.”

The statement indicated that the suspects “are also believed to be involved in similar incidents in North Brunswick, Piscataway, Bound Brook, and Franklin Township.”

New Brunswick Police detectives areworking with investigators from those municipalities along with the NJ Lottery Commission in linking those crimes.

“This investigation is ongoing and additional complaints are expected in the future,” reads the release.

So far, the authorities revealed the dates and locations of the four burglaries that occurred in New Brunswick.

Three occurred in downtown, and the burglars hit one store twice, UltraCare Pharmacy, located in the Matrix office building at the corner of New and George Streets.

The crew also hit the downtown Krauszer’s on Bayard Street, and Reyes Grocery on Elizabeth Street.

Store Address Date
Ultra Care Pharmacy 272 George Street January 16
Krauszer’s 50 Bayard Street January 24
UltraCare Pharmacy 272 George Street February 5
Reyes Grocery 35 Elizabeth Street February 8


The arrests came at approximately 3:00 am, according to the statement, and the operation involved detectives from the North Brunswick Police Department as well.

All of the arrests occurred at 73 Throop Avenue, in the city’s Second Ward.  The eleven suspects, ages 26 to 55, face a slew of charges for the burglaries, as well as heroin possession and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. 

“Proceeds of the burglaries including: scratch-off lottery tickets, display cases and cigarettes, in addition to cash and narcotics were recovered at the house,” reads the release.

Those arrested, and the charges against them, according to the NBPD release:

Tredell Barnes (40 year old male from New Brunswick), charged with:

  • Theft – 7 counts
  • Burglary – 4 counts
  • Criminal Mischief – 4 counts
  • Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 3 counts
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 2 counts
  • Receiving Stolen Property – 2 counts
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Jessica Romero (36 year old female from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Theft – 3 counts
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 2 counts
  • Receiving Stolen Property – 2 counts
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Peter Small (41 year old male from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Theft – 1 count
  • Burglary – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Michelle Summers (50 year old female from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Theft – 2 counts
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 2 counts
  • Receiving Stolen Property – 2 counts
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Brian Beckett (30 year old male from Monmouth Junction) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Tina Martinez (38 year old female from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Ricky Richardson (55 year old male from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Pamela Kuzniar (27 year old female from Franklin Park) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Quyteasea Pryor (39 year old female from Middlesex Borough) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Kevin Summers (49 year old male from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Chieta Hodges (26 year old female from New Brunswick) charged with:

  • Receiving Stolen Property – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Commit Theft – 1 count
  • Possession of CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Conspiracy to Distribute, CDS Heroin – 1 count
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, CDS Heroin – 1 count

Anyone with any information about these cases is asked to contact Detective Brandon Epstein at (732) 745-5217. 

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.