Crime & Safety
Five Toms River Residents Indicted in String of Burglaries
Grand jury hands up 24-count indictment against group
Five Toms River men have been indicted in connection with a string of burglaries in town that were committed between Dec. 8 and Jan. 31.
Parker B. Egan, Michael Lanza, Joseph Sabato, Bobby L. Smith and Jesse L. Smith all were indicted in connection with nine burglaries in the Kettle Creek and Green Island sections of Toms River.
The burglaries netted more than $4,000 worth of cash, jewelry, electronics, two pellet guns and prescription medication from the homes.
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Jesse L. Smith, 20, faces 19 counts -- 10 of third-degree burglary, eight of third-degree theft and one count of resisting arrest. He is being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, on $75,000 bail, no 10 percent option.
Egan, Lanza, Sabato each were indicted on single charges of receiving stolen property, while Bobby Smith was indicted on two charges of receiving stolen property.
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Egan posted $1,500 bail on Feb. 4, according to court officials. Bobby Smith, Sabato and Lanza all were released on summons.
Jesse Smith is accused of taking the items, then turning the jewelry over to the other four men charged in the idictment. The resisting arrest indictment relates to a burglary on Jan. 26, where he fled police.