Route 46 Business Owner Frightened After Recent Burglary

During his restaurant's first seven years of existence, Peter Chan's business had never been a victim of a break-in.

But over the last 12 months, No. 1 Wok's in the Pine Brook Plaza on Route 46 has been broken into twice and attempted a third time. Two of the incidents have occurred in the last month alone.

"I'm scared, really worried," he said.

During the , approximately $130 to $140 was stolen from the cash register, according to Chan. But he said he will no longer be leaving any money in the register. He has also hung a sign that reads, "No Cash In The Register" and will be installing bars behind the front door and front window.

In May, many of the shops in the plaza were burglarized, including No. 1 Wok, Bambino's, Donut Dugout and Blimpie.

The owner of Donut Dugout, who declined to be named, said he will also not be leaving any cash in the register after hearing of the most recent break-in at No. 1 Wok.

"I'm not scared," he said. "You worry about it too much and, forget it, it's happening everywhere."

Donut Dugout's owner said the police have responded well, and that they are often patrolling the area. During the night of the robbery in May, a patrolman missed the burglaries by just a few minutes, according to Det. Chris Keezer, of the .

Keezer said burglaries on the highway seem to "spike up every once in awhile."

"I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to it," Keezer said. "That's a crime of opportunity."

At night, Keezer said the area near Route 46 and Interstate 80 is one of the most heavily patrolled, but with a recent decline in the size of Montville's police force, from 43 two years ago to 36 now, each shift has one less officer on patrol.

"If you look at bordering towns, I think you'll find a spike in similar crimes," Keezer said. "Where it's a quick break-in to a highway establishment."

The Dunkin' Donuts on Route 46 in Montville was robbed at gunpoint in late April as well.

Police have been making arrests for these crimes, though, and Keezer said the sharing of information between the county's departments has been helpful for nabbing some of the suspects.

The most recent burglary is still under investigation and surveillance tapes are being reviewed. The police are asking that anyone with information regarding the burglary to call 973-257-4300 and ask for the detective on duty.