Man Arrested In Toms River, Charged in Berkeley Burglary

A man arrested in Toms River for a Berkeley burglary is a suspect in other burglaries throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties, police said.

Two men and a Bayville woman are facing charges related to an attempted burglary at a home on Sherman Avenue on Oct. 4, Berkeley Township Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

Nicholas Merola, 30, was arrested at the in downtown Toms River and charged with burglary and eluding. He is lodged in the in Toms River in lieu of $100,000 bail, with no ten percent option, said Smith.

Merola is a suspect in numerous burglaries in Ocean and Monmouth counties, he said.

Also arrested was Michael Trenchi, 30, Keansburg. He was charged with burglary and eluding. Trenchi's bail was set at $50,000, Smith said.

Kelsey Cooragio, 29, Sherman Avenue, Bayville, was charged with hindering apprehension, issued a summons and released. Cooragio is Trenchi's girlfriend, Smith said.

Berkeley police responded to a 6 p.m. call from a neighbor at another residence that a man had pushed in the air conditioner at the home at 47 Sherman Avenue while another man waited outside the house as a lookout, Smith said.

When Berkeley Patrolmen Michael Poikans, John Schneider and Sgt. James Blair arrived on the scene, the two men fled into some nearby woods, said Smith.

Police found a Mercury Mountaineer parked in front of the house next door. The car was registered to Lauren Trenchi, Keansburg. When police asked Corragio, who lives at 46 Sherman Avenue in Bayville, if she knew who owned the car, she responded with "numerous erroneous stories," Smith said.

Michael Trenchi was apprehended shortly after by an officer and was identified as one of the males who fled from the scene. Police seized the car and identified the second male as Nicholas Merola, said Smith.