Snow Helps Police Nab Man Suspected in Hundreds of Crimes

Footprints left in the Friday snow led police to arrest and charge a North Plainfield man in connection with numerous vehicle break-ins and thefts in Cranford. 

Jose Velez, 24, is now actively being investigated by Fanwood police and other agencies in Union and Somerset counties for similar crimes in the area.

Police initially responded to a report of a vehicle burglary on Elizabeth Avenue in Cranford at 5:36 a.m. on Friday. After securing the crime scene, Cranford Officer Derek Farbanec was able to track the subject for several blocks, from the crime scene to the Cranford Train Station, by following fresh footprints in the snow. He located Jose Velez, 24, on the westbound platform and after a brief investigation placed him under arrest. Velez resisted arrest and attempted to flee the scene before Farbanec and Officer Kelly Sretenovic subdued him.   

Velez was arrested and charged with burglary, a third degree crime.

At headquarters, Cranford Detectives Ryan Greco and Michael Andrews were able to link Velez to 19 vehicle burglaries in the area of Elizabeth, Hamilton, Wade and Lenox avenues, and Linden Place. Detectives were also able to connect Velez to 10 additional burglaries on December 23 including one in which an attached garage was entered and a bicycle was stolen.

Velez is being actively investigated by multiple agencies in Union and Somerset counties, including Garwood, Fanwood, Plainfield and North Plainfield. He is considered a suspect in several hundred additional incidents. Charges in those cases are still pending.

He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail and is scheduled for a first court appearance on January 13. Velez is also being detained on existing traffic warrants from East Brunswick and South Plainfield.