Crime & Safety

Tenant Accused of Pawning Hopatcong Landlord's Jewelry

25-year-old man allegedly stole more than $50,000 in items from Oaklahoma Trail residence.

A 25-year-old man has been accused of stealing jewelry from his Hopatcong landlord, police said.

Thomas Burnett, who moved to Piscataway after getting evicted from an Oaklahoma Trail residence, was charged with third-degree theft and arrested for outstanding warrants.

According to Lt. Thomas Kmetz, Burnett was a tenant at the Oaklahoma Trail home from March 2013 until he was evicted in November 2013 when the landlord suspected him of stealing items.

Burnett kept the garage door opener and the homeowner claimed he used that to continue to get into the home and steal more items, Kmetz said.

The landlord went to Hopatcong Police in January when he discovered a pawn shop receipt in a vehicle he co-owned with Burnett, Kmetz said. Police showed the victim photos of jewelry recently pawned at the store and he identified items that belonged to his deceased mother, according to Kmetz. Burnett had pawned the items that were identified, Kmetz said.

Officers located and arrested Burnett in Piscataway.

Burnett was taken to the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail with no 10 percent option.


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