Full Notification

On Thursday, February 12, at approximately 7:30 a.m., officers from the South Brunswick Police Department responded to the area of Ireland Brook Park for a report of a theft in progress. While officers were en route, they were advised that the suspects were traveling north on a trail behind Ireland Brook Park.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a resident of Davidson Mill Road, who reported that shortly before police arrival he observed a blanket placed over a security camera in his backyard. The resident then discovered that multiple recreational motorcycles (dirt bikes) were missing from his garage. The resident proceeded to the area of Ireland Brook Park, where he observed a male dressed in all black running toward the rear of a residence on Ireland Brook Drive.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage, which showed that at approximately 2:10 a.m., two males were walking behind the victim’s residence on Davidson Mill Road carrying blankets. The blankets were used to cover additional surveillance cameras on the property. The victim advised officers that he had already located and recovered multiple dirt bikes along a trail leading to the parking lot of Ireland Brook Park; however, three remained missing.

As additional officers arrived, they observed footprints in the snow leading to a residence on Ireland Brook Drive. Officers Thomas Dugan, Robert Halmi, and Christine Harris checked the residence and located a male dressed in all black with a black face covering sitting in a lawn chair. The individual was identified as Christopher Diaz-Escobar, an 18-year-old male from New Brunswick. He was initially placed in investigative detention. After further investigation, he was subsequently placed under arrest.

The East Brunswick Police Department responded to assist in locating additional suspect(s) with the use of their drone unit. Officers processing the scene discovered a blanket covering a surveillance camera at the victim’s residence on Davidson Mill Road. Officers also followed footprints in the snow and observed an attempted forced entry at a shed window. Tools believed to have been used in the commission of the crime were located nearby.

Two vehicles believed to be associated with the incident, a black BMW 328 and a silver Honda Accord, were located in the parking lot of Ireland Brook Park and on Greenwich Court. Both vehicles were impounded and transported to police headquarters pending a search warrant.

A 17-year-old male from New Brunswick was also located on Riva Avenue by Officer Gerald Sarno and was arrested in connection with these crimes. The juvenile was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary and was released pending his first court appearance.

Christopher Diaz-Escobar was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary. He was lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Jamal Benbow at 732-329-4000 ext. 7443 or Detective Brian Luck at 732-329-4000 ext. 7475.

As with all criminal defendants, the charges against these individuals are merely allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
 

Instructions:

Two Arrested in Dirt Bike Theft Investigation Near Ireland Brook Park