Three Elizabeth Men Charged in Multiple Burglaries Targeting Residential Homes in Affluent Areas in Bergen County

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of STEVEN RUGELES (DOB: 01/06/1993; married; unemployed) of 1204 Fairmount Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ; SANTIAGO CAMARGO-ROJAS (DOB: 05/03/1999; single; unemployed) of 738 Seaport Drive, Elizabeth, NJ; and NICHOLAS BUITRAGO-GRILLO (DOB: 2/01/2000; single; unemployed) of 738 Seaport Drive, Elizabeth, NJ on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, money laundering, receiving stolen property, possession of false government documents and possession of burglar tools. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and several other Bergen County police departments.

From March 2023 through July 2023, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Squad investigated a series of residential burglaries in and throughout New Jersey, specifically in Bergen County, which appeared to share the same modus operandi. The burglars targeted residential homes in affluent areas, often on or near dead end or cul-de-sac streets. The burglaries occurred during the early evening hours when the homes were not well lit, and it appeared the homeowners were not present. The individuals would sometimes pose as delivery workers to ensure the residence was unoccupied. Once inside, they would remove high-end designer items, jewelry, and cash from the residence.

On July 18, 2023, during this investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants at 1208 Fairmount Avenue and 738 Seaport Drive in Elizabeth, NJ. The search revealed tools commonly used by burglars to gain access to residences, an abundance of jewelry, luxury watches, and currency, all believed to be proceeds of burglaries committed in Bergen County and other jurisdictions in the tri-state area. Additionally, fraudulent government documents including driver’s licenses and passports were also located at both search warrant locations.

STEVEN RUGELES was charged with third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7a; third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, and fourth-degree possession of fraudulent government documents, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1d. RUGELES was held in the Bergen County Jail pending his Central Judicial Processing Court hearing in Hackensack, NJ.

SANTIAGO CAMARGO-ROJAS was charged with third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7; third-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a; fourth-degree possession of fraudulent government documents, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1d; and a disorderly person offense of possession of burglar tools, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-5. ROJAS was held in the Bergen County Jail pending his Central Judicial Processing Court hearing in Hackensack, NJ.

NICHOLAS BUITRAGO-GRILLO was charged with third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7; third-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a; fourth-degree possession of fraudulent government documents, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1d; and a disorderly person offense of possession of burglar tools, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-5. BUITRAGO-GRILLO was held in the Bergen County Jail pending his Central Judicial Processing Court hearing in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Saddle River Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Alpine Police Department, Fair Lawn Police Department, Woodcliff Lake Police Department, Glen Rock Police Department, Norwood Police Department, Closter Police Department, Cresskill Police Department, Elizabeth Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in this investigation.