1-22-2025 5:57pm

Man Arrested for Commercial Burglaries Across Somerset County

Donnella Tilery Editor

Gabriel Bay, age 56, Milltown, New Jersey

SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., announced the arrest of Gabriel Bay, age 56, Milltown, New Jersey in relation to several commercial burglaries which occurred between December 3, 2024, and December 16, 2024, in Somerset County.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at approximately 2:05 a.m., an individual was captured on surveillance video using a crowbar to break the glass in the front door of a convenience store located on U.S. Hwy 206 in Bedminster, N.J. Upon gaining entry to the store, the individual broke into both cash registers taking approximately $267.00 in U.S. currency before fleeing the area. Officers from the Bedminster Police Department responded to the scene to investigate.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at approximately 2:45 a.m., the same actor that committed the Bedminster burglary was seen on surveillance cameras carrying a hammer and wearing the same clothing in the area of commercial properties located on Washington Walley Road in Warren Township N.J. All three properties were burglarized after the individual forced entry into the stores taking U.S. currency and a gaming console from one of the properties before leaving the area. The reported losses from these commercial properties were $300, $100 and $1200, respectively. Officers from the Warren Township Police Department responded to the scene to investigate.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, at approximately 1:19 a.m., officers from the Branchburg Township Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious person throwing items at the window of a business located on U.S. Hwy 202, Branchburg Township, N.J. Officers arrived to find the glass in the front door of the business shattered and a male in the store. When officers confronted the male, he fled out of the rear door of the store. It was determined that the individual gained entry by using a glass break tool to break the glass in the front door before stealing approximately $415.00 from the cash registers then fleeing the area.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Monday, December 16, 2024, at approximately 4:29 a.m., an individual is seen on surveillance video pulling into the parking lot of storefronts located on Martinsville Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Three of the storefronts located in the area were found to have broken windows. Upon entry into the stores, the individual stole approximately $120.00 from one store and a hammer and a screwdriver from another store before fleeing the area. Officers from the Bernards Township Police Department responded to the scene to investigate.

On Monday, December 16, 2024, an individual is first seen in surveillance video attempting to gain entry to an establishment located on Washington Avenue in Green Brook, N.J. The individual utilized a hammer to destroy the door by splitting it in half causing property damage. At approximately 5:05 a.m., the same individual is observed walking across the street and using a claw hammer to break the glass in the front door to gain access to a restaurant also located on Washington Avenue. The individual also breaks the lock on a file cabinet in the rear office. Officers from the Green Brook Township Police Department responded to investigate

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Unit conducted a joint investigation with officers/detectives from the Bedminster Township Police Department, Warren Township Police Department, Branchburg Township Police Department, Green Brook Township Police Department, and the Bernards Township Police Department. The investigation led to the identification of the individual responsible for the burglaries, who was identified by investigators as Gabriel Bay.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, as a result of this joint investigation, Gabriel Bay was arrested without incident in Milltown, New Jersey and charged with three counts of 3rd degree Burglary, 3rd degree Theft, 4th degree Theft, 4th degree Criminal Mischief, three counts of Possession of Burglary tools, a disorderly persons offense and one count of Theft, a disorderly persons offense from the burglaries that occurred in Warren Township.

Defendant Bay was also charged with 3rd degree Burglary, 4th degree Theft, 4th degree Criminal Mischief and Possession of Burglary tools, a disorderly person’s offense for the burglary committed in Branchburg Township. Defendant Bay was processed at the Somerset County Jail and subsequently lodged in the Morris County Jail.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, while at the Somerset County Jail, defendant Gabriel Bay was served with complaints from Bedminster Township for charges of 3rd degree Burglary, 4th degree Theft, 4th degree Criminal Mischief and Possession of Burglary tools, a disorderly person’s offense resulting from the burglary that occurred on December 3rd in Bedminster Township. Defendant Bay was also served with complaints from Bernards Township for charges of three counts of 3rd degree Burglary, three counts of 4th degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of Theft, a disorderly person’s offense and Possession of Burglary tools, a disorderly person’s offense stemming from the burglaries that occurred in Bernards Township on December 16, 2024.

On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Green Brook Township Police Department served defendant Gabriel Bay while at the Morris County Jail with criminal complaints for 3rd degree Burglary, 3rd degree Attempted Burglary, two counts of 4th degree Criminal Mischief, and two counts of Possession of Burglary tools, a disorderly persons offense for the attempted burglaries that occurred in Green Brook Township.

Prosecutor McDonald would like to thank members of the Middlesex Count SWAT team, officers from the Edison Police Department and Officers from the Woodbridge Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

Prosecutor McDonald and Chief Roman request anyone with information regarding these burglaries to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Burglary Unit at (908) 231-7100 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.