Suspects sought in burglary spree

By: Cara Latham
   PLUMSTED — Overnight burglaries at two Lakewood Road businesses and an Exxon gas station on Main Street are under investigation by police.
   Police said Advanced Commercial and WIG Electrical, which share the same building at 15 Lakewood Road, were burglarized between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Police said they got the call around 8 a.m. Tuesday.
   A panel was removed from the door, the windowpane showed signs of damage and the door was left open, police said. Two tin snips with red handles, a hand-held circular saw, a sledgehammer and acetylene torch set were taken, said police. The cart for the acetylene torch was found in a nearby field.
   The same night, a burglary took place at the Exxon gas station on Main Street, where the station was entered through the side bathroom door. Once inside, thieves went through the ceiling into the main office and store area, police said,
   According to police, there was also evidence that entry was attempted through the roof of the building. Police found tin snips, a sledgehammer and a striker used to light acetylene torches, which appeared to be the ones taken from Advanced Commercial and WIG Electrical, although the acetylene tank was not found.
   Police said the owner of the Exxon reported that an undetermined amount of money taken.
   The Ocean County Criminal Investigation Unit responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing and police did not specify whether the burglaries were connected. Anybody with information is asked to call the Plumsted Township Police Department.