A 24-year-old Morris Plains man believed to be connected to several burglaries in town over the past two months was arrested on Friday, Jefferson Township Police said Monday.

Christopher Gabowsky was charged with 69 counts of burglary, theft, conspiracy and criminal mischief, police said.

Police had arrested Richard Malson, 27, of Jefferson Township on Thursday. Malson has also been charged with 69 counts of burglary, theft, conspiracy and criminal mischief, police said. Police believe Malson and Gabowsky worked together. Both have been cooperative in the investigation to date, Jefferson Police Capt. Eric Wilsusen said.

The pair is suspected in burglaries in the East Shore, Lake Forest and Lake Winona areas, as well as incidents that occurred on Raccoon Island and Halsey Island, police said.

Officer Justin Gjelsvik responded to a report of a break-in on Benedict Drive on Thursday. A resident described a possible suspect to Gjelsvik, who had seen a man matching the description in the area on Wednesday, police said.

Gjelsvik and Det. Steve Muller located the man, who lives on East Shore Drive, and during the course of the investigation found some of the items that had allegedly been stolen, police said.

Malson and Gabowsky were both transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility, both in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing.

For more information on this report, contact susan.toth@patch.com.

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