Authorities have made an arrest in a genuinely disturbing home invasion that left an elderly Collingswood couple assaulted and robbed in their own home earlier this year, while a second suspect remains actively sought by investigators. Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey announced Wednesday, July 15, that 32-year-old Jose Sanabria of Camden has been arrested and charged in connection with the attack, closing out weeks of investigative work while leaving a portion of the case still unresolved.
The incident itself took place in the predawn hours of Sunday, May 31, when Collingswood police responded to a home on the 100 block of East Summerfield Avenue at approximately 3:30 a.m. According to authorities, the elderly husband, part of a couple in their 80s, reported that two men had entered the home and began punching him in the face while demanding to know the location of gold coins kept somewhere inside the residence. One of the two suspects was armed with a pocket knife during the encounter, according to investigators. The suspects then dragged the husband up the stairs to where his wife was located, and placed a bag over her head as she lay on the floor, warning him not to move or they would kill her. The two men ultimately fled the home with cash and gold valued at approximately $5,000.
Detectives worked the case using surveillance video footage, cellular data, and other evidence to identify Sanabria as one of the two suspects involved. He was formally charged on June 23 and was ultimately arrested in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 8, with officers from the U.S. Marshals Service handling the apprehension. Sanabria faces two counts of armed robbery, along with individual counts of home invasion burglary, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses. As with any pending criminal case, these charges remain allegations at this stage, and Sanabria has not been convicted. He is currently being held in Pennsylvania pending extradition back to South Jersey to face the charges filed against him.
The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing to search for a second suspect believed to have taken part in the attack alongside Sanabria. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office has not released additional details identifying that individual, and the case remains open as detectives continue working to bring the second suspect into custody.
Given the genuinely violent nature of the crime and the vulnerability of the victims involved, authorities are actively asking the public for any information that could help move the investigation forward. Anyone with knowledge relevant to the case is asked to contact Detective Ryan Durham of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 856-225-5127, or Detective Connor Collins of the Collingswood Police Department at 856-854-1901. Tips can also be submitted directly to Camden County’s tip line.
For a community like Collingswood, an attack of this nature targeting an elderly couple inside their own home understandably raises real concern well beyond the immediate case itself. With one suspect now in custody and formally facing charges, and investigators continuing to pursue the second individual believed involved, residents can expect this case to remain a priority for local and county authorities until both suspects have been fully accounted for.
