Three men have been sentenced to jail time for committing home burglaries in Chester Township and Mendham Township, New Jersey.

The three suspects are a 26-year-old man and two 28-year-old men from Chicago, Illinois. According to Morris County authorities, the men committed the break-ins in April 2017.

The suspects allegedly burglarized a residence in Chester Township and a residence in Mendham Township. Law enforcement said that the men would trick the home occupants into believing that they were utility workers who needed to inspect the homes. One suspect reportedly wore a utility vest and distracted the resident who opened the door while a second suspect snuck into the house and stole items.

Authorities investigated the burglaries and thefts and eventually managed to capture the suspects. The men were then charged with numerous crimes, including theft of movable property, burglary, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy to commit theft.

The suspects later reached plea agreements with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and pleaded guilty to the burglary charges.

The suspects recently made appearances in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown so that a judge could sentence them in the case. Two suspects were sentenced to 270 days in the Morris County Jail, while the third suspect was sentenced to three years behind bars in NJ State Prison.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Illinois Trio Sentenced for Burglaries in Chester, Mendham.”