Probation for Seaside Heights Man Who Swiped Bar Patron's Keys, Stole Car

A Seaside Heights man has been sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution after stealing a car, while drunk, out of the Forked River House parking lot and then getting into a wild single-car accident.

Mathew Bland, 27, was sentenced Monday in connection with the Dec. 21, 2012 incident, in which he stole keys from another bar patron's jacket and proceeded to steal the victim’s Chevy Camaro.

Bland, according to the prosecutor's office, drove the stolen vehicle while intoxicated, then hit a curb, jumped across the sidewalk and continued onto the front lawn of a home on Andover Road.

He then collided with Christmas decorations, struck a tree and spun around, hitting a parked vehicle before smashing through a wooden fence. The vehicle finally came to a stop partially in a neighboring yard.

Bland then stole items out of the vehicle and fled the scene.

Bland previously pleaded guilty to burglary of a vehicle, theft of an automobile, theft, and driving while intoxicated. He was sentenced to five years of probation with no jail time, restitution to his victim, loss of license and 30 days of community service.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone.