A set of brazen apartment burglaries that occurred in Belleville towards the end of the summer has police officials announcing an arrest of a suspect Friday morning.
According to a statement released by Belleville Police to RLS Metro Breaking News, in the first incident, police were called to an address on Frederick Street on August 19th where units arrived at the scene and met with a female resident who reported that a male suspect attempted to break into an apartment by pushing in a window; but fled when he saw the victim.
Police established a crime scene at that location where they reportedly collected fingerprints and other evidence.
Two days later, on August 21st, police say they were called to an address on Magnolia Street after they received reports of a burglary in progress.
Units arrived at the scene and were informed that a suspect entered an apartment through a rear window then ransacked the home.
Belleville police say the suspect took several pieces of jewelry and stole a vehicle before fleeing the scene. A Crime scene unit detectives arrived where they collected fingerprints and surveillance video of the area then sent the information to a lab for analysis.
Police say several days later, a match was made from the fingerprints that led to a photo matching a thin black male who was seen in the affected Belleville neighborhoods by the surveillance video.
Police immediately put out a warrant for the arrest of Newark resident **Mr. Robert C. Smith, 28,** who resides on 18th Avenue.
According to Belleville Police officials, the suspect was pickup by Newark Police for an unrelated crime then turned over to their department.
Belleville Police officials want to remind residents always to secure your homes and properties. Please report suspicious activity in your neighborhoods and people to authorities by calling police early and often.