A 41-year-old Newark man is facing burglary and theft charges after police say he walked into an occupied home on Main Street in Hackettstown and helped himself to the resident's alcohol. Arthur Hudson was arrested following an investigation that began when officers responded to a report of an unknown man inside the home without permission.
According to police, officers were called to 302 Main St. on October 31 after receiving a report that an unidentified man had entered the occupied residence without permission and consumed alcohol belonging to the homeowner, as reported by WRNJ Radio. Investigators obtained a description of the suspect and reviewed home surveillance footage from the scene, according to police.
Surveillance Footage Leads Police to Suspect
That footage, along with the suspect description, led police to identify Hudson as the person involved, according to the same account. Officers located and arrested Hudson, who according to police admitted to entering the residence and taking the alcohol.
Authorities also said Hudson was found in possession of a bicycle and personal belongings that did not belong to him, which were reported to belong to other individuals. Police transported Hudson to Hackettstown Police headquarters for processing before he was lodged at the Warren County Correctional Center to await a court appearance, the outlet's report notes.
What the Charges Carry
Hudson was charged with residential burglary, theft by unlawful taking, and two counts of receiving stolen property, per the report. Under New Jersey law, burglary is generally classified as a third-degree crime except under specific aggravating circumstances, according to the relevant statute from the New Jersey Legislature. The excerpted statute does not specify how the law applies to the particulars of Hudson's case or what degree of charge he is facing.
No additional details about a court date, plea, or case disposition have been made public. The case remains in its early stages following Hudson's arrest and lodging at the Warren County Correctional Center.
