JACKSON – Police arrested two men following an investigation into a stolen vehicle that covered two days.
On July 22 at 10:35 a.m., officers Joseph Pante and Alex Crinnian responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at a convenience store on Toms River Road, according to police.
A male resident of Jackson reported that he had gone into the store and had left his vehicle unlocked and running. He told police that before he entered the store, he observed two men outside the store. When he exited the store, the men and his 2005 Ford F-150 were gone.
The officers viewed surveillance video and observed the two men looking at the truck after the vehicle’s owner had entered the store. The two men then got in the truck and drove away, according to police.
The officers identified the suspects from prior interactions and a warrant charging each man with the theft of the vehicle was prepared.
On July 23 at 8:35 p.m., Officer Robert Reiff responded to the area of Anderson and Monmouth roads to investigate a report of an abandoned vehicle. Upon arrival, Reiff determined the vehicle was the Ford F-150 that had been stolen the previous day. Police said the vehicle had run out of gas.
The vehicle was impounded and a K-9 unit from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to attempt to track the suspects. The suspects’ scents were lost in the area of Rova Farms on Cassville Road, according to police.
On July 24 at 8:05 a.m., officers responded to a resident’s report of two males who were seen entering woods off Sunnybrook Road. Officers Jeff Henba, Brian Baranyay and Chris Wasnesky located both men and took them into custody without incident, according to police.
Coincidentally, a nearby resident of Sunnybrook Road told Officer Chris Kelly that more than $300 had been stolen from a wallet that was in her unlocked vehicle which was parked in the driveway of her home.
Police subsequently determined the two male suspects had allegedly been involved in the theft of the woman’s wallet, according to police.
Police charged a 25-year-old male resident of Ocean Gate with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the incident that occurred on July 22.
The man was charged with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft in connection with the incident on Sunnybrook Road. He was also charged with possession of a weapon (a knife) for an unlawful purpose and with criminal mischief after he damaged a mattress in a holding cell while he was being processed.
Police charged a 25-year old male resident of Jackson with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the incident that occurred on July 22. He was charged with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft in connection with the incident on Sunnybrook Road.
Both men were placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.