An investigation in New Jersey has connected a group of alleged home invaders to a September 2012 incident in the Langhorne section of Middletown Township.
Toms River, N.J. police have arrested six people in connection with a home invasion robbery in their town, and Bucks County police believe at least four were involved in several local incidents.
- Alexander Lora, 34, and Christopher L. Upshur, 22, both of Trenton, were charged in last year with one count each of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary in connection with the New Jersey incident. Both men continue to be held in the Ocean County Jail on $250,000 bail each.
- Kathleen Meszaros, 40, Trenton, was charged in late 2012 with possession of stolen property and her case is pending in Mercer County court.
- Lisa M. Meszaros, 33, Bristol, was charged on April 1 with kidnapping, burglary and robbery and released on $200,000 bail.
- Oliver Cabrera, 23, Trenton, was arrested in January and charged with kidnapping, robbery and burglary in connection with the New Jersey case. He is currently in Mercer County Jail on $250,000 cash bail.
- Chris E. Rodriguez, 22, Bronx, N.Y., was arrested April 7 and charged with kidnapping, robbery and burglary in connection with the New Jersey case. Bail was set at $250,000 and he remains lodged in Pennsylvania State Prison.
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Lora, Upshur and Cabrera have warrants out for their arrest in Bucks County. Rodriguez was sentenced to jail recently for his involvement in the Bucks County crimes. The cases, which spanned several communities, were consolidated and filed in court by Upper Makefield police.
Middletown Detective David Strother said at least three of the suspects were involved in the September 10, 2012 home invasion that happened at a house on Fite Terrace. The suspects are accused of robbing an elderly couple and leaving them with some non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The New Jersey investigation, which lasted 18 months and involved local and federal authorities, uncovered the group’s connection to the Middletown home invasion after a search warrant was executed at an address in Trenton, Toms River police said in a press release.
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The Toms River home invasion happened about two weeks after the Middletown incident. In that case, “the homeowners were targeted because they were regular sellers of antiques and jewelry at the Columbus Flea Market,” police said. The suspects allegedly watched the victims for several days before the home invasion. Police report the suspects made off with $17,000 in cash and an estimated $100,000 in jewelry.
Here are a list of police officials involved in the two-state investigation: Det. Shawn Gorlin of the U.S. Marshals Service; Lower Makefield Detective John Campbell; Middletown Detective David Strother; Bristol Sgt. Al Hankinson; Upper Makefield Detective Patricia Haines; West Windsor, N.J. Detective Steve Skwierawski; Princeton, N.J. Detective Benjamin Gering; Hopewell, N.J. Detective Sgt. Kevin Zorn; and the Trenton Police Department Tactical Detective Squad.
