Church Road Woman Arrives Home To Find Burglary In Progress

A woman in the 1800 block of Church Road arrived home to find an unknown vehicle in her driveway, and after beeping the car horn several times, approached to her house to find the front door forced in and a burglary in progress

“Officers Jason Stallworth and Frank Moschella are investigating a burglary to a residence on Church Road that occurred just before 2 p.m. on Friday,” said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. 

The chief described that a 67 year-old woman came home and discovered a car in her driveway that she didn’t recognize. The female resident honked the horn on her car numerous times before exiting her car, and upon entering the home, realized the front door was forced open and a light was turned on in her bedroom.

“At that point she observed the suspect vehicle, a dark grey Chrysler Sebring convertible, exit her driveway and travel west on Church Road. The suspects stole about $400 in jewelry, including rosary beads, pearl earrings and a lady’s watch.  The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department is assisting with the investigation,” the chief said.

Anyone with information on this incident may contact Detective Captain Bruce Burgess at 732-349-0150, ext 1200.

Additionally, Officer Ryan Quinn is investigating the theft of numerous items from an unlocked vehicle at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon near Route 37.

“Security cameras showed a white male about 40 years old, wearing an old orange shirt and tan shorts, entering a van and removing two pairs of glasses and a cell phone, before exiting and walking to the rear of Jersey Coast Appliance on Route 37.”

Toms River Department Officers Carl Basile and Frank Palino responded to a report of a suspicious white male, about six feet tall with dark hair and appearing to be about 30 years old, wearing a dark blue button-up shirt and khaki pants. The man in question walked up to a vacant house with an empty box on Charlene Road at 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

“A neighbor confronted the man, who then entered a blue Acura with unknown temporary tags, and fled westbound on Lakehurst Road. The neighbor believed he stopped the suspect before he entered the vacant home,” said Mastronardy.

Further, the Toms River Police Department are looking to identify two black males in a 2-door grey Chevrolet Cavalier, who were observed parked near a landscaper trailer at the Bey Lea Village apartment complex.

“A worker for Hudson Landscaping reported that while working at the complex, three redmax blowers were removed from a landscaping trailer, between 2:30 and 3 p.m. on Friday. Officer Travis Seaman is investigating, and anyone with information can contact Detective Captain Bruce Burgess at 732-349-0150, ext. 1200,” the chief explained.