Garden Center Theft Charges Handed to 2 From Morristown

Montville police say the arrests of three people in connection with an alleged burglary at Condurso's Garden Center in the township could help solve thefts from other garden centers and floral shops in Morris and Passaic counties.

After hearing about the burglar alarm around 2:30 a.m. at Condurso's on his radio, Montville Ptl. Robert Koetzner pulled over a woman who was driving on side streets away from the area of the garden center and farm market.

The driver, Natalie Johnson, a 27-year-old whose last known address was in Morristown, and two passengers, who police say were sitting low in the car—Eric Allred, a 25-year-old Morristown resident, and Michael Blackman, a 19-year-old Randolph resident—were arrested in connection with the incident at Condurso's after an investigation, Montville Township Police Capt. Rudy Appelmann said Thursday.

Johnson was charged with possession of burglary tools and released, Appelmann said. Allred and Blackman were charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief and conspiracy, and were taken to the Morris County jail, Appelmann said.

Appelmann said the three who were arrested gave detectives information about several burglaries at garden centers and floral shops, and charges are pending from East Hanover, Boonton Township, Harding Township, Chester Township and Wayne police.

They were riding in a silver four-door 2012 Dodge Avenger that was rented earlier in May from Ride Share Systems LLC in Morristown. Any agency that has had a burglary or burglary attempt to a farm, garden center or floral shop since the beginning of May should contact the Montville Township Police Detective Bureau at 973-257-4300 for further information, Appelmann said.

Additional information about the incident at Condurso's and what items allegedly were stolen from the businesses was not immediately available.