Police Release More Details in Home Invasion Probe

Investigators do not believe a home invasion-style burglary on Gray Pebble Circle late Saturday night was a crime of opportunity.

It is believed the four armed burglars were seeking a specific item, or items, from the home, targeting the victim in a planned crime, according to Gloucester Township Police Chief W. Harry Earle.

"We do not believe that this was a random crime," the police chief said Monday afternoon. "The situation here, at this point in our investigation, shows that this was not a case where people were driving down the street and just decided to break into that house."

Police have since nonetheless beefed up patrols in the neighborhood.

Investigators are still working the case to determine what exactly the burglars were seeking when they broke into the Sicklerville home, Earle said.

The burglars reportedly were armed with several guns, including shotguns.

They fled in a 2000 Dodge Durango they stole from the victims' driveway. The black SUV, which bore New Jersey license plates JPC 61V when it was stolen, had not been recovered as of Monday afternoon around 3:45, Earle said.

Police now believe four burglars were involved in the home invasion. It initially was reported that there were four or five burglars.

Police say one suspect is a black male, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and stocky.

A second suspect is described as black, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and thin; a third as light-skinned black or white and about 6 feet tall; and a fourth only as black.

The burglars were wearing ski masks, dark clothing and gloves when they broke into the home in the Cobblestone Farms development Saturday night, according to police.

They demanded cash and jewelry from the household's adult male after he arrived home to find a family member being held at gunpoint. All but the adult male were tied up during the crime, police said.

The suspects fled the area in the stolen Dodge SUV with an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry, police said. No one was injured.

A similar home invasion occurred in the single-family home section of Millbridge development on March 14. Police withheld information about that crime until Monday, Earle said.

"There were some similar elements to it," the chief said of the prior home invasion and Saturday's.

Anyone with information about the crimes is encouraged to contact police at 856-228-4500 or to leave a message on the anonymous tip line at 856-842-5560.