Christmas Eve Burglar Snatched Piggy Bank, Jewelry From Hopatcong Home

A Brooklyn Mountain Road resident was the victim of a Christmas Eve burglary, Hopatcong police said.

The homeowner came home to discover someone had broken part of the glass portion of her front door and reached inside to turn the key to the door's deadbolt lock, which was still inside the lock. 

The burglar gained entry to the house and made off with a large jug-shaped green piggy bank with the words "Lottery Money" emblazed on it. A gold heart necklace, a gold necklace with diamonds, a three-stone diamond necklace, a gold wedding ring with a weave pattern, and two pairs of gold earrings were also taken.

Police warned homeowners never to leave the key in a deadbolt lock. Rather, the key should be hung on a nail a few feet away from the door and close to the ground so that a resident could reach the key in the event of a fire.