Hopatcong Man Indicted in Burglaries

A 44-year-old Hopatcong man is accused of prying open windows and stealing money and jewelry from homes in several counties from July to September 2011.

Edward Michael Carhardt Jr. was indicted on 35 counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief Thursday, according to a statement by Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano. Carhardt, who lived at the , is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail in Somerset County Jail, Soriano said.

Carhardt was arrested on the New Jersey Turnpike with money, jewelry and credit cards belonging to a Medford Township resident on Sept. 30, Soriano said. Authorities tailed Carhardt's 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix to the Brace Road home and confirmed it had been burglarized after Carhardt had left the area, the prosecutor said.

After the arrest, a large amount of jewelry belonging to burglary victims was found after authorities searched Carhardt's apartment and two vehicles, Soriano said.

State Police found consistencies in residential burglaries committed in Sussex and Warren counties, Soriano said. The State Police found the homes hit were usually single-family homes on large lots that were secluded from the road and neighboring properties, Soriano said.

Pry marks were found at many burglarized homes, Soriano said. Carhardt typically targeted master bedrooms, searching for money and jewelry but leaving other valuable items, he said.

Carhardt's 1998 Acura CL was reportedly seen fleeing a home burglary in Middle Smithfield Township, Pa., in July, Soriano said. On Sept. 5, county and municipal detectives joined to create a task force to investigate the growing number of similar-style burglaries in Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Morris and Sussex counties.

A surveillance operation from Carhardt's Hopatcong home to Medford Township spanned several hours and more than 100 miles and ended in Carhardt's arrest, police said.