'AC Bandit' Breaks Into 4 Morris Twp. Homes, Police Say

The Morris Township Police Department and a neighborhood watch group will hold a special meeting Tuesday night after a fourth in a recent string of residential burglaries occurred Sunday on Burnham Road.

The police and the Washington Valley Neighborhood Watch Civic Association will hold the meeting at the Washington Valley Schoolhouse at 7:30 p.m.

"The meeting is to advise the neighbors over there what is going on, currently what we're doing, and ask them to help us because there's a chance maybe someone has seen this individual and did not call us," Acting Police Chief John McGuinness said.

The most recent burglary occurred Sunday afternoon when a Burnham Road resident likely scared off a burglar who police believe is responsible for three other area break-ins since June, McGuinness said.

The police are referring to the burglar as the "AC bandit," who has been gaining entry into homes by pushing in window air conditioning units.

Nothing appeared missing from the Burnham Road residence, McGuinness said. The incident was reported late Sunday afternoon. Local authorities and the Morris County Sheriff's Criminal Investigation and K-9 units responded to the scene, but were unable to track the burglar, McGuinness said.

McGuinness said the three other burglaries were on Gaston Road on July 20, Whitehead Road on July 13 and Picatinny Road on June 11.

McGuinness said the same person likely committed all four burglaries that all shared a similar pattern of entry being gained by pushing in a first-floor window air conditioner and exiting through either a front or back door.

While nothing appeared missing from the Burnham Road residence, jewelry and small electronic equipment like iPads were reported stolen from the other homes, McGuinness said.

Since no one has yet to see the burglar, police do not have a description of the individual, McGuinness said.

Police encourage residents to come forward with any information about the incidents.

As the investigation is ongoing, the police are currently processing DNA and fingerprints as evidence.

The residents of the Washington Valley section of Morris Township are invited to attend the meeting at the Schoolhouse, located at the intersection of Washington Valley Road and Schoolhouse Lane.