Three winning lottery tickets were allegedly cashed in just 45 minutes after being stolen from a Salem County home. This helped police corner two burglary suspects. Watch video
UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. -- The urge to quickly cash in winning lottery tickets allegedly taken when they broke into a home proved to be the downfall of two burglars, authorities say.
Eric Gilch, left, and Joshua Robinson have been charged with burglarizing an Upper Pittsgrove Township home, according to New Jersey State Police. Authorities say it was the fact that Robinson cashed in lottery tickets allegedly stolen from the home that resulted in their arrest. (New Jersey State Police)Those tickets, along with good detective work, resulted in the arrest of two suspects in a Salem County home burglary that was captured on video, according to New Jersey State Police.
Eric Gilch, 28, of Blackwood and Joshua Robinson, 32, of Deptford have both been charged in connection with the April 12 break-in.
Authorities say it was because one of the suspects cashed in some of the stolen tickets -- worth a total of just $6 -- at a liquor store just 45 minutes after allegedly taking part in the burglary, that helped investigators quickly track down the pair.
The incident began when the two broke through the door of a home on Glassboro Road in Upper Pittsgrove Township.
Even though there were two dogs in the home, the burglars were not deterred.
The pair is seen on surveillance video working their way through the home looking for items of value. They allegedly took a lockbox of jewelry and some personal documents -- and 10 New Jersey Lottery tickets, three of which were $2 winners, according to state police.
The remote surveillance system the unidentified homeowner had installed allowed the owner to see the burglary in progress and actually yell at the burglars as they ransacked the home. The pair heard the voice and fled.
According to police, it was Robinson who shortly thereafter cashed in the lottery tickets in Camden, which linked him and Gilch to the home burglary.
Detectives reportedly were able to trace that the lottery tickets cashed in in Camden were the same ones stolen from the Upper Pittsgrove Township home.
While state police were searching for Robinson in Camden, they found Gilch walking in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Broadway in the city.
He was arrested on outstanding warrants and authorities later found he had jewelry allegedly taken in burglaries in Collingswood and Haddon Township. That jewelry, including an inscribed heirloom wedding band, was later returned, police said.
Police later tracked down and arrested Robinson.
Gilch and Robinson were both charged with burglary and theft in the case.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.