SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Authorities have arrested three men in connection with a series of residential burglaries in Franklin Township and Hillsborough, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald announced on Friday.
Rodrigo A. Lopez, 42, of Bridgewater; Edison Jimenez-Castro, 35, of Manville; and Andres Moncaleano, 30, of Elizabeth were arrested following an investigation into two break-ins that took place in October 2024. According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects were linked to the burglaries after surveillance footage and investigative work revealed their involvement.
The first burglary occurred on October 18, 2024, at approximately 9:52 p.m. at a home on Second Street in Franklin Township. Investigators determined the burglars gained entry through a broken second-floor window, and later discovered that jewelry, coins, and artwork were stolen. Surveillance footage from the area showed a vehicle matching the one seen at the second burglary.
The second burglary occurred on October 25, 2024, at around 8:19 p.m., at a residence on Brennan Way in Hillsborough. Officers found broken glass in a second-floor rear window, and video surveillance showed two individuals fleeing the scene and entering a vehicle that matched the one seen during the Franklin Township burglary. Jewelry and coins were also reported stolen from the Hillsborough residence.
A joint investigation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit, along with Franklin and Hillsborough Township police, connected the two burglaries and identified Lopez, Jimenez-Castro, and Moncaleano as suspects.
Lopez was arrested on February 5, 2025, in Bridgewater, and Jimenez-Castro was taken into custody in Manville without incident. Moncaleano remained at large until February 11, when he was arrested in South Brunswick.
Each suspect faces multiple charges, including second-degree burglary, second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree theft, and possession of burglary tools. Lopez and Jimenez-Castro are currently lodged in Somerset County Jail, while Moncaleano is being held in Middlesex County Jail pending court hearings.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the burglaries to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit at (908) 231-7100, or to submit anonymous tips via the STOPit app or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
