Months after a late-night burglary shook a quiet stretch of Bound Brook Road, police say they’ve caught the man behind one of the more unusual thefts in Middlesex County this year — a wine and cash heist totaling $18,000 from a beloved neighborhood restaurant.
According to Middlesex Borough police, 34-year-old Dashawn W. Durant, of Jersey City, was arrested following a months-long joint investigation that connected him to multiple burglaries across central New Jersey.
Authorities say Durant broke into Vincenzo’s Ristorante, a long-running Italian restaurant on Bound Brook Road, in the early morning hours of July 23. Surveillance footage and evidence collected at the scene reportedly show he forced his way through a rear door before making off with nearly $6,000 worth of fine wine and another $12,000 in cash.
A Quiet Night Turned Costly
Vincenzo’s, known for its white-tablecloth dining, curated wine list, and classic Italian entrées, has been a mainstay in the community for years. Regulars describe it as the kind of place where families gather for birthdays, anniversaries, and Sunday dinners.
It’s one of those old-school Jersey restaurants — everyone knows each other. It certainly rattled the community.
Police say just hours before hitting Vincenzo’s, Durant allegedly tried to break into another nearby business — Tim Kerwin’s Tavern, also on Bound Brook Road — by climbing through a kitchen window. But when an alarm went off, he fled before taking anything.
The two businesses sit less than a mile apart, and investigators believe Durant may have been casing the area in the days prior.
Police Tie Suspect to Similar Burglaries
Detectives from Middlesex Borough worked closely with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, which had been investigating similar break-ins at other local restaurants and bars. That collaboration ultimately led authorities to Durant, who was identified as a suspect based on surveillance footage and evidence recovered at the scenes.
Durant faces two counts each of burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, and conspiracy. At the time of publication, no attorney was listed in court records.
According to public court documents, Durant has prior burglary convictions in multiple New Jersey counties — part of what investigators say helped them connect the dots between this summer’s incidents.
The Impact on Small Businesses
For restaurant owners, the break-ins underscore a growing concern about security for small, independent businesses, particularly those that handle cash and valuable inventory. Restaurants in New Jersey run on very thin margins, and losing thousands in cash and product can take months to recover from.
It’s likely that since the incident, Middlesex police have stepped up overnight patrols in commercial areas. Local businesses are always urged to review security footage and upgrade alarm systems when possible.
What Comes Next
Durant remains in custody pending further court proceedings. Middlesex Borough police said the investigation is still active and could result in additional charges if Durant is linked to other open cases in neighboring towns.
As for Vincenzo’s, the restaurant reopened shortly after the burglary, with staff and customers rallying around the owner.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.