Four juveniles accused of causing damages to schools

BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN - Four youths were arrested Sunday evening for their alleged roles in two break-ins at township schools.

At about 9:40 p.m., policed responded to a burglary in progress at Harmony Elementary School on Murphy Road. Witnesses at the scene told the officers they heard a loud noise and saw four juveniles exit the school building. The suspects ran toward the rear of the school and were then seen fleeing on Eldridge Avenue.

Officers conducted a search of the area and found a home with a garage door open and bicycles lying on the property. They also spoke to an adult resident, and that conversation revealed that a juvenile resident of the home and a friend were present when the window at the school was broken. Two other juveniles were reportedly found hiding on the property.

Officer Michael Allen took all four juveniles, ages 13 and 14, into custody.

After further investigation, police concluded the four juveniles were also responsible for throwing rocks through two windows at Thorne Middle School, which is located next to Harmony School. The only damage done at the elementary school was a broken window. Nothing appeared to be missing from the building.

No estimate of the cost to repair the window at Harmony School was available. The estimated cost to repair the window at Thorne Middle School is approximately $1,000, and it appeared no entry into the school was made.

The juveniles were released to their parents after processing, and the case has been forwarded to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for formal charging.