A New Brunswick man has been charged with leading police on a 50-mile chase in a stolen van after allegedly stealing $7,000 worth of jewelry from a Middletown store, authorities said yesterday.  After crashing the van in Newark on Monday, Eugene Andreola was arrested and charged by police in Middletown and Woodbridge in connection with the theft of the van, two car chases and the robbery of a jewelry store, said Middletown Detective Lt. Stephen Dollinger.

Police were first tipped off to Andreola’s whereabouts by the owner of an Edison business, who told authorities his van was stolen earlier that day and the GPS tracking indicated the vehicle was in Middletown, Dollinger said. Middletown police Sgt. Paul Bailey first spotted the van traveling in the wrong direction on Route 35. Bailey chased the van into Perth Amboy where Middletown police called off the pursuit, Dollinger said.  During the chase, Middletown police received a report of an alarm at the Jovi Fine Jewelry store on Route 35 near New Monmouth Road. The glass front door had been smashed, a jewelry case had been damaged and several trays of jewelry, valued at $7,000, were stolen, Dollinger said.

Spotting the van, Woodbridge police gave chase. Andreola was arrested after the van crashed in Newark, Dollinger said. He said police found the stolen jewelry in the van.  Middletown police charged Andreola with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, numerous motor vehicle offenses and possession of burglary tools, said Dollinger. Woodbridge police charged him with possession of stolen property, eluding and resisting arrest.

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