Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania has recounted the terrifying moment her New Jersey townhome—shared with her boyfriend, Paul Connell—was broken into by robbers armed with a blowtorch.
Speaking on Jeff Lewis Live on SiriusXM, the 54-year-old Bravo star described the ordeal as “one of the most frightening experiences” of her life, revealing that the intruders used the industrial tool to breach the property’s security system undetected.
Catania explained that the incident occurred while she and Connell were in Rhode Island filming the first season of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island for Bravo.
“Paul had his phone off because he was performing for everyone and drinking tequila,” Catania recalled. “My phone started ringing, and it was his son. I always answer for the kids, even if I’m filming. He said, ‘Is my dad there? The house just got broken into.’”
Connell admitted that the call “scared the life” out of him, noting that the situation was “pretty bad.” According to the couple, the burglars used a blowtorch to heat and shatter glass without triggering the home’s alarm—a sophisticated new tactic among criminals.
“They came in with a blowtorch,” Catania explained. “It’s something thieves are doing now because it lets them get in without setting off alarms. When you heat the glass, it shatters quietly—you can just push it through.”
Connell added that their home was equipped with an “insane” security system, which silently alerted police while allowing a short delay before triggering the alarm.
“By the time they got in and out, police were already on their way,” he said. “The whole thing lasted maybe a minute once they were inside. They’d spent about eight minutes trying to get in.”
Fortunately, the couple reported that nothing of major value was taken, as they deliberately avoid keeping valuables in that residence.
“It’s just not worth it,” Connell noted. “Even if they had found something, they wouldn’t have gotten far—the police were there in 20 seconds.”
Catania praised law enforcement’s swift response, saying officers arrived “with their guns drawn.” She also issued a cautionary message to fellow public figures and social media users about the risks of sharing their whereabouts online.
“We all love to post when we’re out or away,” she said. “Paul had posted that we were in Rhode Island, and that night, we got broken into. First and last time—lesson learned.”
Beyond her work on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Catania has also been recognized for her philanthropic contributions. In 2020, she was honored by Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn for her charitable work and remains actively involved in animal rescue initiatives.#newsafro_
