Toms River Police Canvassing Neighborhood After Armed Burglars Tied Up Couple

Toms River police continue to canvass the Rivercrest Manor neighborhood after a trio of men armed with handguns tied up a couple and stole safes and jewelry Friday morning.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said the home invasion, around midnight, had three men in ski masks force upon a locked sliding glass door to a bi-level home on Colonial Drive.

The men — wearing black ski masks, blue and white shirts and brown work gloves — made their way to a bedroom where a husband and wife were asleep, said the police chief. The couple awoke to the armed men, and who tied up the residents under gun point.

Mastronardy said the men were armed with black automatic handguns. The three men remained in the home with the restrained residents for at least 30 minutes, ransacking the home looking for safes.

Two safes, as well as cash, antique and newer jewelry were taken. The safes are grey, and measure two feet by two feet, police said.

The men fled, carrying the safes to at least one vehicle parked on nearby Nanlyn Terrace, and drove off. Mastronardy said a neighbor called into police after observing something suspicious while at the mailbox, and then entered the home to see the couple tied up. The neighbor freed the husband and wife, who reported no injuries.

The police chief said the home may have been specifically targeted.

"The victims have been involved in the jewelry business and the investigation indicates that the residence was targeted," he said.

Mastronardy announced this evening that the investigation is ongoing and involves continued police presence in the neighborhood.

"Officers are conducting a canvass of the neighborhood this evening attempting to obtain any information from people who live in the neighborhood," he said in an email.

Anyone with information can call Toms River Police Detective Louis Santora or Roger Hull at 732-349-0150 ext 1276.

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