'AC Bandit' Cools Off in Morris Twp., Hits Madison

The so-called "AC Bandit" who police say has pushed in window air conditioners to burglarize four Morris Township homes over the past two months, may have struck a Madison residence last week.

A window air conditioner was pushed in at an Elm Street residence last Monday and a laptop computer, iPad, sneakers and a T-shirt were reported stolen, according to NJ.com.

The incident fits the pattern of .

Since June 11, the "AC Bandit" has hit Morris Township homes on Gaston Road, Whitehead Road, Picatinny Road and most recently last Sunday—the day before the Madison incident—on Burnham Road, police said. Jewelry and electronics were reported stolen from three of the homes, police said.

About 50 Morris Township residents where Acting Chief John McGuinness and Patrolman Steve Summerer urged residents to report any suspicious activity.

Summerer said he suspects the burglar to be a possible drug addict between the age of 17 and 20. Summerer believes the burglar has a drug problem because the individual is breaking into the homes about once a week, quickly grabbing a bunch of items to sell to buy drugs, and then returning for another burglary to gain more items for another round of drugs, he said.

Another indication that the burglar is a drug addict, Summerer said, is that the individual is going into the medicine cabinets, and either using the drugs or selling them on the street.

However, police say residents shouldn't feel threatened since the intruder doesn't appear to be confrontational.

"That is very typical of a burglar, they are not confrontational," McGuinnes said. "They want to be inside your home, grab the belongings, and get out of there as soon as possible."

If anyone has information regarding the burglaries, contact the Morris Township Police Department at 973-539-0777 or the Madison Police Department at 973-593-3000