Burglary Robs Toms River Church of $1K

An overnight burglary of a Toms River church took more than $1,000 in a safe, after a suspect entered through a window, police said.

The Church of the Nazarene, , was burglarized sometime Sunday night into Monday morning, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy.

The police chief said the suspect entered through a window, removing an air conditioner.

"Typically you'd unscrew the air conditioner from its brackets with a screwdriver and climb in," Mastronardy said. "We do not have any suspect info or information on why the church was targeted."

He said the money wasn't taken from a collection box and was instead from a safe in the office.

It's unknown whether the burglary was the handiwork of one or multiple suspects, Mastronardy said.

"Right now this is an open investigation," he said. "We're encouraging anyone to call in news tips who may have seen anything."

The brickface church fronts Route 37 West between Deer Chase Manor and the Oak Ridge Estates in Toms River.

Toms River Officer Frank Bopp, Detective Mark Bajada and the Ocean County Sheriffs Office are handling the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Toms River Capt. Bruce Burgess 732-349-0150 ext. 1200.