Crime & Safety

Man Hides in Closet After Jewelry Theft, Is Confronted by Residents

Police looking for suspect in Vincenzo Drive burglary last night

A Vincenzo Drive home was burglarized while the residents watched television, but when the female resident went upstairs, she found a man hiding in her closet, police said.

The man was confronted by the male resident, but ultimately made off with more than $5,000 in jewelry, said Chief Michael Mastronardy.

"The suspect is described as being a dark skinned male about 5' 10" with a thin build, wearing a black hoodie pulled tight over his face," said the police chief in the police report. The man was also wearing blue jeans.

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The burglary and theft occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, in the residential street of Vincenzo Drive, off of Old Freehold Road near Whitty in the North Dover section of Toms River.

A 52 year-old woman went upstairs to her bedroom and found a man hiding inside, said Mastronardy.

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"The woman screamed and the suspect fled past her down a flight of stairs past her husband who had confronted the man in a foyer before the suspect ran out the back of the home," he said.

Neither resident was injured. The suspect removed more than $5,000 of jewelry from the home, while the residents were watching television in the living room, said the police chief.

Toms River Police Officers Kyle Martucci, Jason Putkowski and Detectives Louis Santora and John Bajcic are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call police headquarters at 732-349-0150.


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