Steph Solis

@stephmsolis

State Police say they have a new crime-fighting partner: Facebook and Twitter.

A series of tips on those social media sites led New Jersey State Police to nab three home burglary suspects.

Troopers arrested Jesse James Shawger, 21, Thomas LaSala, 24, and John Anderson, 27, all of Howell, in connection with a Sept. 9 home burglary. They were charged with burglary and theft.

The arrests stemmed from a series of social media posts from police.

"We are excited to see how our social media outreach has morphed into an effective crime-fighting tool," said Capt. Stephen Jones, State Police spokesman.

The burglary occurred at 1:49 p.m. Sept. 9. The homeowner's surveillance system captured a man climbing through the kitchen window of a home on Nurko Road in Millstone. Once he got in, the man unlocked the door and let three other men inside.

The four suspects stole a safe and several electronics.

State Police took to Facebook and Twitter to crowdsource tips.

Detectives were flooded with dozens of tips, according to the statement. They were able to identify the suspect in a half-hour.

The suspects were arrested between Nov. 8 and Dec. 3 — thanks to the power of social media.

And State Police are giving it another go, in hopes of finding the fourth suspect. The agency posted a previously unreleased photograph of the fourth suspect on its official Facebook page Tuesday.

According to the statement, surveillance footage shows a fourth man wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dark shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hamilton Station Troopers Mimikos or Boyd at 609-584-5000 ext. 5297.

Steph Solis: 732-463-4043; ssolis@gannett.com