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Authorities in Old Bridge are investigating the fifth home invasion since Oct. 20 in Middlesex County. (File photo.)
OLD BRIDGE — Armed men entered the home of an Old Bridge family, tied up the residents and stole cash and jewelry last night, authorities said.
It's the fifth home invasion in Middlesex County since Oct. 20, and the third in Old Bridge, all of them following a now-familiar pattern. Like the four other home invasions, the victims were Asian-Indian, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey and Old Bridge Police Chief William Volkert.
The invaders fled last night with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry, the prosecutor's office said. They broke into the home at 7:20 p.m.; police were alerted at 8:51 p.m., according to the prosecutor.
Carey's office did not say whether the five incidents are related, and did not disclosure the number of invaders or whether anyone was injured in the incident.
Armed burglars targeted homes in Old Bridge on Oct. 20 and Oct. 26, a South Plainfield home on Oct. 28, and an Edison home on Oct. 30.
The prosecutor's office, the FBI, the State Police, and local departments in Old Bridge, South Plainfield and Edison are investigating the rash of home invasions, which have put the local Asian-Indian community on edge.
Satish Poondi, the legal adviser for the Iselin-based Indian Business Association, said that the group is focusing on educating people on keeping their homes and possessions safe.
"On behalf of our organization, we still have the utmost confidence and full faith in the prosecutor’s office and the local law enforcement with respect to the job that they’re doing," Poondi said. "Certainly, it’s unfortunate. We need to catch these people. We’re confident that the law enforcement is up to that task and they’re putting all their resources behind catching these criminals."
Peter Kothari, a local activist in the Indian community, said that patience is wearing thin.
"We are scared," Kothari said. "People in power don't understand. I'm lucky I'm not a victim like that. I know that if I have to pass one minute with a gun on my head, how would I feel?"
Kothari said he's working on organizing a protest or a news conference to bring attention to the community's concerns. Despite the nearly month-long lull between invasions, Kothari said he was never entirely at ease about the chance that it could happen again.
"It’s going to happen, naturally," Kothari said. "Once they run out of the money they will go out and do it. Somebody at some point is going to get hurt."
Police are offering rewards for people with information.
Carey is urging anyone with information to call their local police, or Agent John Selesky of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3439, or Detective John Marotta of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745- 3331. Carey said in a news release that residents should be vigilant, secure their homes, watch their neighbors' homes and call police to report suspicious activity.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.