08-03-2025
Arrests made in Hillsborough, Franklin home robberies of jewelry, coins
Three men have been arrested and charged with two home robberies in Franklin and Hillsborough in October, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald announced.
Rodrigo Lopez, 42, of Bridgewater, Edison Jimenez-Castro, 35, of Manville, and Andres Moncaleano, 30, of Elizabeth, were charged with burglary, theft, conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of burglary tools. Jimenez-Castro and Moncaleano also were charged with conspiracy to commit theft.
Around 9:52 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2024 Franklin police officers responded to a report of a burglary at a home on Second Street where they found someone entered through a broken second-floor window, McDonald said. Video surveillance found a suspect vehicle and the residents reported jewelry, coins and artwork missing, the prosecutor said.
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Around 8:19 p.m. a week later on Oct. 25 Hillsborough police officers responded to a report of a burglary on Brennan Way where they found broken glass in the second-floor rear window, the prosecutor said. Video surveillance found two individuals running from the home to a vehicle that was similar to the prior robbery, McDonald said, and homeowners also reported jewelry and coins missing.
An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Burglary Unit and Hillsborough and Franklin police departments found Lopez, Jimenez-Castro, and Moncaleano were the suspects.
Lopez and Jimenez-Castro are in the Somerset County Jail, while Moncaleano is in Middlesex County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with information should contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Burglary Unit at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app.
Email: alewis@
Alexander Lewis is an award-winning reporter and photojournalist whose work spans many topics.
This article originally appeared on Hillsborough, Franklin NJ home robbery suspects arrested
