Homeowners Hid in Bathroom During Burglary, Police Say

A pair of Matawan residents hid in their bathroom after an East Orange man broke into their Broad Street home, police said.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Matawan police received a 911 call at 9 a.m. The homeowners heard knocking at their back door and then heard someone walking downstairs inside the residence. The owners waited in the bathroom until police arrived.

Patrolman Paul Ryba and Patrolman Matthew O'Boyle responded to the scene and arrested 21-year-old Kareem Reed.

Reed was allegedly found with jewelry belonging to the residents. He was also found with marijuana, police said.

Reed was charged with burglary, theft and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Reed had four failure to appear warrants, including two in Newark, one in East Orange and one in Irvington. Bail was set at $70,000 with no option to post 10 percent of the bond. Reed was remanded to Monmouth County Correctional Institution.