GTPD Charges Duo in Attempted Burglaries

Gloucester Township Police have charged two men in connection with smash-and-grab burglaries of two convenience stores early Thursday.

The duo—a Camden County man and a Gloucester County man—was arrested in Runnemede at around 4:25 a.m. Thursday after they had broken into a convenience store there on Evesham Road, the Courier-Post reported.

It was a vehicle description township police provided to area police departments that helped Runnemede Police nab the two men—Thomas Rosa, 44, of Camden, and Jaime L. Hopman, 32, of Swedesboro—in the act, Gloucester Township Police Capt. Anthony Minosse said on Friday.

Gloucester Township Police responded to alarm calls at Pantry 1 Food Mart, located at 501 Black Horse Pike in the township's Glendora section, and Food Plus, on Somerdale Road, early Thursday, discovering smash-and-grab burglaries at both locations, Minosse said.

The investigating officers reviewed surveillance video from Food Plus and were able to determine the suspects were traveling in a white pickup truck.

That vehicle description was forwarded to Camden County emergency communications dispatchers, who passed the information along to area police departments, Minosse said.

Using that information, Runnemede Police conducted checks of the businesses in their jurisdiction, finding Rosa and Hopman at One Stop Shop at 301 E. Evesham Rd., according to the Courier-Post.

Gloucester Township Police charged Rosa and Hopman with two counts each of conspiracy and criminal mischief and single counts of criminal attempt burglary, burglary, possession of burglary tools, Minosse said.

Both men were lodged in Camden County Jail in lieu of bail following their arrests.