Thieves target unlocked vehicles

MANALAPAN — Police are investigating four burglaries that were reported by residents of Manalapan on Feb. 18.

According to information provided by police, a 51-year-old male reported that unknown persons entered his unlocked vehicle while it was parked on Juniper Avenue and removed a GPS unit valued at $150.

The victim told police that a second unlocked vehicle had been entered, however, nothing was taken from that vehicle. The incident took place between 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 7:30 a.m. Feb. 18.

In another incident, a 39-year-old female reported that unknown persons entered her unlocked vehicle and removed various items. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of a home on Sandybrook Road when the theft occurred sometime between 9:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and 5:30 a.m. Feb. 18.

Also on Feb. 18, a 52-year-old resident told police that unknown persons entered an unlocked vehicle and removed a wallet sometime between 11 p.m. Feb. 17 and 8 a.m. Feb. 18. The vehicle was parked in a driveway on Heather Drive at the time of the theft.

Sometime between the evening of Feb. 17 and the morning of Feb. 18, unknown persons entered an unlocked vehicle that was parked on Center Drive and removed various items, according to a report that a 31-year-old female gave to police.

Three more burglaries were reported by police on Feb. 18, 23 and 24.

Police said unknown persons entered an unlocked vehicle that was parked on Sugar Maple Avenue and removed $360 cash and the victim’s driver’s license sometime after 9 p.m. Feb. 17 and before the crime was reported by a 20-year-old individual at 7:22 a.m. Feb. 18.

Sometime between 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 10:15 a.m. Feb. 23, unknown persons forcibly gained access to a residence on Bloomfield Road after smashing the window in the rear door. The home was unoccupied at the time of the crime. Unknown items were removed from the home, according to information provided by police.

Police responded to a home on Pease Road on Feb. 24 in reference to the theft of items from a vehicle. Police said the victim reported that unknown persons entered his vehicle while it was parked in the driveway and removed various power tools.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the Manalapan Police Department at 732-446-4300.

On Feb. 16, Manalapan police arrested two individuals and charged them with shoplifting and conspiracy following an incident at Babies “R” Us, Route 9. Police said LeonAvery, 40, and Carlos Cortez, 42, both of Staten Island, N.Y., were apprehended after they allegedly shoplifted $302 worth of baby supplies from the store. Both individuals were placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $5,000 and no 10 percent option.