Crime & Safety

Woodbridge Police Nab Car Robbing Suspect in the Act

A 26-year-old suspect was caught Tuesday night as he was allegedly in the midst of burglarizing a Woodbridge automobile.


A man who was caught red-handed rummaging around inside a parked car Tuesday night.

Woodbridge police caught Jose Luis Iza, 26, of Elizabeth after they responded to a call about a suspect in the vicinity of Rahway Avenue and Grove Street, pulling on the door handles of parked cars. 

Police went to the area and discovered Izza, outfitted in a black sweatshirt and allegedly rummaging around inside a parked 1996 four-door Ford. Police said Izza had a flashlight in his mouth to illuminate the interior of the car, and he was digging through the car's center console.

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Iza, police said, was not the owner of the vehicle.

Inside, they found a small hammer-like device with pointed ends that is often used as a rescue tool to smash car windows. They also found inside the vehicle a screwdriver that didn't belong to the car's rightful owner.

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Iza was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal attempt, and possession of burglary tools. He is being held on $75,000 bail with no 10 percent option at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center in North Brunswick.

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