A jewelry theft case worth $30,000 has been solved by Monroe Police with the help of a polygraph test, according to authorities.
The case began on Friday, February 21, when a resident from Monroe reported that several valuable jewelry pieces had gone missing from a bedroom. At the time of the incident, renovation work was being done at the home.
Because multiple workers had access to the house during the renovations, it was difficult for the police to know who could have taken the jewelry.
To help narrow down the list of suspects, detectives from Monroe Police worked with the New Jersey State Police Polygraph Unit to carry out lie detector tests.
The tests were used to check if any of the workers were hiding the truth or knew something about the missing jewelry. After testing, it was found that Kevin Munoz Reardon, who was working in the house as a painter, knew about the theft.
Once confronted, Reardon returned most of the stolen jewelry to the police. He has now been officially charged with third-degree theft, Monroe Police said.
While most of the jewelry has been recovered, officials have not shared whether all items were returned or if some are still missing.
The use of a lie detector test in this case helped speed up the investigation and allowed police to recover the stolen items without delay. Lie detector tests, also known as polygraphs, are not always used in theft cases but can sometimes help when there are multiple suspects and not enough direct evidence.
Reardon will face legal proceedings for his actions, and the case will now go through the court system. Police have not said whether he has a lawyer at this time or when his next court appearance is scheduled.
Monroe Police also reminded homeowners to be extra cautious during home renovations. It is important to keep valuable items in a safe place or temporarily remove them from the home during construction or repair work when several people may be entering and exiting.
This incident also shows how teamwork between local police and state agencies can lead to fast results. In this case, the cooperation between Monroe detectives and the state polygraph unit played a key role in solving the crime.
No injuries were reported, and police did not release further details about the other workers who had access to the home. The investigation is considered closed now that the suspect has been charged and the jewelry recovered.
For the homeowner, it was a stressful experience, but thanks to quick action by police, the stolen items were returned, and the case was resolved quickly. The community has appreciated the efforts of the police department for handling the case professionally and efficiently.