MIDDLESEX COUNTY

'Grinch' charged with 10 South Brunswick burglaries

Suzanne Russell
@SRussellMyCJ
  • Felix Bruno%2C 32%2C of the Bronx%2C is considered "the Grinch of Christmas past" for allegedly breaking into homes in South Brunswick just before and after Christmas last year.
  • Bruno has been charged with with 10 home burglaries in South Brunswick between Dec. 12%2C 2013 and Aug. 1%2C 2014%2C according to detectives. He is being held on %24500%2C000 bail at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.
  • Bruno also is facing burglary charges in Edison and East Brunswick%2C police said.
  • Police said the arrest is the result of an investigation involving several law enforcement agencies.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A 32-year-old New York man who police consider "the Grinch of Christmas past" is facing charges related to about 10 residential burglaries dating back to the 2013 holiday season.

Police have labeled Felix Bruno of the Bronx "the Grinch of Christmas past" for allegedly breaking into homes in here just before and after Christmas last year.

"I want residents to know that we follow all leads to solve crime no matter the how long it takes. In these cases, it took nearly a year and a cooperative effort with several law enforcement agencies to put the pieces together that led to the arrest," said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka.

Bruno has been charged with with 10 home burglaries in the township between Dec. 12, 2013 and Aug. 1, 2014, according to detectives. He is being held on $500,000 bail at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

Bruno also is facing burglary charges in Edison and East Brunswick, police said.

Most of the home burglaries occurred during the nighttime/dusk hours. Police believe rear sliding doors were used to enter the homes, The doors were either moved off the track or the glass was smashed. Mostly jewelry and electronics were taken from the master bedrooms, police said.

During the investigation, South Brunswick detectives learned Bruno used rental cars to avoid detection. Police learned of Bruno's travel in Central Jersey and coordinated with Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN) to sort through information about his movements.

Based on the data and an iPad stolen from one of the homes and recovered in the Bronx, Bruno was charged with breaking into homes on Markus Drive on Dec. 12, 2013; Raleigh, Hastings and Henderson roads on Dec. 27, 2013; Starling and Calvin roads and Roberts Street on Jan. 8, 2014; two homes on Matthew Avenue on June 20, 2014 and an Oakey Drive home on Aug. 1, 2014.

Hayducka cited the cooperative effort of several law enforcement agencies with solving the cases.

"Edison Police developed a break in the case, East Brunswick Police provided additional leads, and the NYPD added their assistance. This is a textbook case of multiple agencies sharing real time information and putting the pieces together to catch the suspect," said Hayducka who specifically recognized Edison Detective Steve Todd, East Brunswick Detective Joseph Bauer, and South Brunswick Detectives Mike Pellino and Dennis Yuhasz for their hard work and perseverance in solving the cases.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com