Asbury Park NJ Man Arrested, Accused of Committing Burglary Spree in Ocean, Monmouth Counties

Police in the Borough of Deal NJ have finally arrested a person who has been tied to at least 11 break-ins in Monmouth County and Ocean County this year.

According to Monmouth County authorities, the suspect committed burglaries and thefts throughout the area. Over a two-month period, he allegedly broke into and stole property from homes located in Deal, Interlaken, and the Village of Loch Arbour.

The suspect’s modus operandi in each burglary was generally the same: he would enter the front yard of the residence and steal outdoor equipment such as grills and unchained bicycles. On some occasions, the suspect illegally entered the homes – so long as the houses were unoccupied at the time. Once inside the residences, the suspect reportedly “took anything and everything,” including electronics, jewelry, and other valuables.

The first break-in occurred on April 20 at a residence located on Ocean Avenue in Deal, New Jersey. Approximately one month later, the suspect allegedly burglarized another home on the same street in the Borough of Deal. The bulk of the break-ins and thefts were committed between June 15 and June 20, with the suspect reportedly stealing items from eight different homes in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Local police agencies continued to receive reports of the home burglaries but were unable to identify the culprit. Several police departments ended up working together on a joint investigation into the burglary spree, with investigators eventually uncovering enough evidence through surveillance videos and eyewitness accounts to connect the suspect to the thefts.

In addition to allegedly committing the burglary and theft crimes, the suspect also allegedly committed other minor criminal offenses in Tinton Falls, NJ. Law enforcement learned about the suspect’s other reported criminal activity after processing him for the burglary spree.

The suspect, a 44-year-old resident of Asbury Park, New Jersey, faces numerous criminal charges, including six counts of burglary, seven counts of defiant trespassing, and 12 counts of theft of movable property.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the burglary charges, he would be subject to severe penalties. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2 classifies burglary as a third degree felony. A conviction for unlawfully entering a structure without license or privilege to do so could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

After being placed under arrest and processed, the suspect was remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, NJ. He was being held at the jail in lieu of a bail amount of $94,500.

For more information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Man Charged in 2-Month Burglary Spree in Shore Towns, Cops Say.”

If you’ve been arrested for burglary, theft of movable property or any other criminal offense in New Jersey, it is imperative that you talk to a qualified criminal defense lawyer. John W. Tumelty is an experienced, aggressive criminal defense attorney who is prepared to help you avoid the most severe penalties for a theft offense or property crime in NJ. Contact Mr. Tumelty today for a free consultation about your case.