Man Arrested Twice in 3 Weeks on Theft Charges

A Brick man is behind bars after being arrested for the second time in three weeks on theft charges.

Richards M. Brooks, 40, of Kentwood Boulevard, turned himself in to police Sunday, according to Brick Capt John Rein. The charges date to July 12 when a female family friend of Brooks, who lives on Michigan Ave., reported that after Brooks had left her house, $4,000 worth of jewelry turned up missing.

Brick Detective Timothy McCarthy investigated the incident, and after checking local pawn and jewelry stores, determined that Brooks sold jewelry matching the description of the stolen items at a coin and jewelry store in Point Pleasant on July 12, Rein said.

McCarthy obtained an arrest warrant for Brooks, which led to Brooks turning himself in. He was arrested by Ptl. James Kelly at police headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail set by Municipal Court Judge Report Lepore.

The arrest was Brooks' second in three weeks, Rein said. On June 24 he and his girlfriend, Dawn Keifer, 44, of Toms River, were arrested on  burglary and theft charges after workers at the Kentwood Apartment Complex reported a burglary to a basement store room and the theft of three sinks and power tools. The workers reported they had spotted the stolen items in a pickup truck, which Ptl. John Gannaio found out was owned by Brooks, according to Rein.

Brooks and Keifer were both arrested on burglary and theft charges in that incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. Both eventually were able to bail out of jail.

A check of jail records Thursday morning showed Brooks was still behind bars on the latest charge.