Long Valley Man Accused of Burglarizing Two Businesses in One Night

A Long Valley man is currently lodged in Warren County Correctional Facility for allegedly committing two burglaries in the same night in Hackettstown, police said.

Hackettstown police responded to Al’s Quality Cleaners on Mountain Avenue at 3:51 a.m. Saturday after a report of an individual calling for help, Sgt. Darren Tynan said. When police arrived they found an employee who said he was saw an individual come into the business and rummage through the drawers, Tynan said.

A short time later officers observed a man fitting the description given by the Al’s Cleaner’s employee walking through the Rite Aid parking lot nearby, Tynan said. During an investigation it was learned the man was John Berardi, 50, and he allegedly threw a rock through the front window of the cleaners before entering the building, Tynan said.

Berardi stole an undetermined amount of money from the business, Tynan said, and was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft and refusal to provide fingerprints. He was unable to post the $25,000 bail and lodged in the Warren County Correctional Facility.

Later that morning police responded to Studio Nails, also on Mountain Avenue, for a report of a burglary. During an investigation police learned someone opened the rear window and entered the store, Tynan said.

Surveillance video allegedly showed Berardi going through a cash register and drawers of the business, but nothing appeared to have been stolen, Tynan said.

Berardi was charged with burglary and criminal mischief and an additional bail amount was set at $25,000.

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