Hammer-Wielding Man Invades Sunnymeade Home, Beats Residents

Two people were beaten, robbed and locked in a closet of their Sunnymeade Road home for about six hours Saturday, police said.

They were eventually able to escape and contact police after the intruder left in one of their vehicles, a statement issued by Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald, and Hillsborough Township Chief of Police Paul Kaminsky said.

The man was described as  described as a black male, with dreadlocks, about 5 feet and 10 inches inches tall, with a thin build, according to Capt. Jack Bennett of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, NJ.com reported.

Detectives are still investigating the ordeal, which began at about 10:30 a.m. when the man entered the property brandishing a hammer and demanding money from the residents, an 80-year-old female and a 57-year-old male.

Police said the man assaulted them with the hammer, then locked them in a bedroom closet. 

After escaping from the closet about six hours later, they were taken to Somerset Medical Center for treatment of their injuries and released.

Prosecutor Soriano said the intruder took one of the victims’ vehicles, which was recovered in Raritan Borough. Police did not release information on any other property or money that may have been taken.

Detectives assigned to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Crime Scene Investigation and Forensics Unit and the Hillsborough Township Police Department responded to the residence to assist in the investigation.

Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Prosecutor Soriano, Chief Fitzgerald and Chief Kaminsky request that anyone with information regarding this home invasion to contact the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE."  All calls will be kept confidential.