On September 5, 2018 Howell Township Police Department arrested Branco Torres, 47, and his girlfriend Rebecca Alvarado, 48, both of Lakewood, for a pair of residential burglaries occurring on August 28, 2018 on Larabee Blvd and September 4, 2018 on Lanes Pond Rd. in Howell.

On August 28, 2018 Howell Township Police Department responded to Larabee Blvd. for a burglary report after the homeowner arrived home and found a window air conditioning unit removed and jewelry and a laptop computer stolen valued at approximately $1,500.

On September 4, 2018, Howell Township Police Department was contacted by a homeowner on Lanes Pond Rd. who was viewing burglars in his home on his cell phone in real time via an interior surveillance camera and phone application. Officers immediately responded to the home but the suspects fled prior to police arrival. Officers on scene discovered a side-door forced open and costume jewelry stolen.

The interior surveillance footage of the suspects committing the burglary was posted on our police department Facebook page resulting in a flood of tips via our anonymous tip line, P3Tips. Tipsters identified Torres and Alvarado as the suspects which was later corroborated by investigators. Detectives Robert Ortenzi #604, David Gilliland #637 and Michael Maccia #649 arrested Torres and Alvarado at their home on Deer Path in Lakewood. Alvarado was wearing a red wig to disguise her appearance at the time of arrest. Searches of their vehicle and home were conducted and all stolen proceeds from both burglaries were recovered and returned to the victims.

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Torres was charged with 2C:18-2a(1), third degree burglary and 2C:20-3a third degree theft, in connection to both burglaries. He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute. Alvarado was charged with the same burglary and theft statutes but only for the Lanes Pond Rd. burglary and was also transported to MCCI.

Howell Township Police Department continues to benefit from the great support we have in the community and are especially grateful for the people that came forward and assisted with identifying the suspects in this case. We would like to remind the public that any tip can be sent directly to HTPD investigators via our anonymous tip line, p3tips.com.

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