Dawud Ward, 23, of Plainfield, is also suspected in burglaries in Union, Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Morris counties.
CRANFORD -- The keen eyes of an off-duty detective have led to the arrest of a man wanted for burglaries in five New Jersey counties, including in the town of Cranford, according to police.
Cranford police said an off-duty detective saw a suspicious person exiting a Locust Drive home with what later was determined to be proceeds from a burglary.
Dawud Ward, 23, of Plainfield, was arrested on Friday after officers caught up with him in a 2016 Hyundai near the scene, police said.
Police said Cranford Detective Spencer Durkin led the investigation after developing Ward as a suspect in a December 2016 burglary of a Riverside Drive home. They said Durkin learned Ward was also suspected in burglaries in Union, Essex, Middlesex, Somerset and Morris counties.
Police said the string of burglaries launched a joint surveillance operation between the Cranford, Clark, Hillside, Watchung, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains and Berkeley Heights police departments, as well as the Somerset County prosecutor's office.
Police said Ward was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief in Cranford, but did not say if he has been charged in any other municipalities yet. They said he was remanded to the Union County Jail, where he was later released after a detention hearing.
"The collaborative effort involved in these investigations is truly a testament to the hard work, dedication and information sharing among the detectives," said Cranford Chief James Wozniak.
Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.