Crime & Safety

K-9 Tracks Suspected Burglar, Leads to Arrest of Toms River Man

Suspect being held in the Ocean County Jail

A Toms River man was arrested Tuesday morning after an Ocean County Sheriff's Department K9 tracked him from the scene of a burglary, police said.

Thomas Lembo, 47, of Yorktowne Boulevard, was arrested after police were called to the Holiday City at Silverton community after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for a report of a suspicious person, Chief Michael Mastronardy said.

Officer John Mehl located a vacant home on Yorktowne Blvd. with a broken window and recovered a wrench on the ground, said Mastronardy, then called for the Sheriff's Department to assist in a search for a suspect.

Sheriff's Officer Christine Casullo and her K-9 tracked the suspect from the site of the break-in to Lembo's residence, said Mastronardy.

After an investigation by Detective Thomas DiMichele, Lembo was arrested and charged with burglary and criminal mischief and held on $10,000 cash bail.


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