NJ Cops: Middletown Store Helped Save Stolen Musical Equipment

A Middletown business’ call to police helped save more than $5,000 in music equipment stolen from a New Jersey church.

In an announcement on Thursday, South Brunswick (New Jersey) police Chief Raymond Hayducka said his department has charged 24-year-old Brendan Wetzel, of Lower Makefield, with burglary, criminal mischief, and theft of movable property from a church.

South Brunswick police allege that Wetzel forced entry to the St. Mary’s Baptist Church on Broadway Road and stole a number of pieces of musical equipment that belonged to the church’s band members.

Within an hour of the November 6 burglary and theft being reported, South Brunswick police began checking local music equipment stores and pawn shops armed with a detailed list and descriptions of the stolen items. They advised store staffs to keep an eye out for the stolen equipment.

In Middletown, officers were contacted by music equipment store, which was not named by authorities, to report a “suspicious male attempting to sell stolen music equipment.” The staff had become aware of the equipment stolen from St. Mary’s Baptist Church and became suspicious, police said.

A Middletown officer pulled over Wetzel’s vehicle and found an “array of musical equipment in the back seat.” One of the items recovered was linked to the New Jersey church, police said.

As the investigation continued, police said they recovered all the stolen musical equipment and returned them to the church band.

Wetzel’s electronics devices were searched by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. The devices stored photos taken at the park behind the church around the time of the burglary. In addition, there were searches linking Wetzel to the church, police said.

“A house of worship is a special place and all our resources and partners were committed to finding who did this crime. It took hours to recover the music instruments and months to follow the electronic footprint to link the suspect to the burglary, but in the end we got him,” South Brunswick Chief Raymond Hayducka said.

The chief praised the work by law enforcement on both sides of the river.

In addition to his charges in New Jersey, Wetzel was charged in Bucks County with a single count of receiving stolen property. On Wednesday, he agreed to waive the case to a late August trial.

Wetzel was free on bail as of Thursday.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.