A New Brunswick man was arrested today on charges of smashing windows at five Highland Park stores that were apparently targeted because they are owned by Jewish merchants.

Richard Green, 52, was arrested in at 3 p.m. in New Brunswick and charged with five counts of criminal mischief, all fourth-degree offenses, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said.

Authorities said police are also investigating whether Green was involved in other incidents, including vandalism at the Hillel and the Chabad House on College Avenue on on the Rutgers University campus. A window was broken on each of those buildings Sunday night, officials said.

The vandalism in Highland Park sent shock waves through the borough, which has a large Jewish community.

“The preliminary investigation determined that the shops that were targeted are Jewish businesses that trade in such items as clothing, food and religious items and are owned by Jewish merchants,” Kaplan said in a joint statement with borough Police Chief Stephen Rizco.

Depending on the police investigation, Green could face additional charges, and the criminal mischief counts could be upgraded to a bias crime, Kaplan said.

Owners of several of the vandalized shops today refused to immediately label it a bias crime.

“Everything seems to point to a bias crime. I don’t want to jump to that conclusion. There were other Jewish-owned stores that were not hit,” said Rabbi Edward Prince, owner of Jerusalem Pizza restaurant.

(Source: NJ Star Ledger)