Manalapan police reported the following incidents occurring in the township:
• At 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, a 2019 BMW X5 that was parked on Wilfred Road, Manalapan, was stolen. Wilfred Road is in a residential development off Union Hill Road. The suspects at the time were unknown, but were observed on surveillance video leaving the scene in an unknown silver sedan type vehicle. Entry into the vehicle was gained through an unlocked door. Police said the keys were left inside the vehicle.
• On Dec. 31, a 38-year-old Manalapan resident reported selling an item on the application Letgo. The resident was contacted by an unknown individual who was interested in buying the item. The individual sent a $1,050 check to the resident to cover the sale item for $150, $20 for gas and $880 to provide to the movers who would retrieve the item purchased. The individual directed the resident to purchase $880 in gift cards and to provide the gift card numbers and PINs to them, which the resident did. Police said the resident’s item was never retrieved and the gift card balances are zero.
• On Jan. 2 at 4:30 p.m., employees of Best Buy, Manalapan, reported a shoplifting in progress. Police said a man who was later identified as a 50-year-old resident of Elizabeth was observed by responding officers leaving the store with stolen merchandise valued at $379. Police said the man failed to comply with the officers’ commands and was subsequently apprehended by Patrolman Adam Sosnowski and his K-9 partner, Grim. The man was transported to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, for treatment of what police described as minor injuries. He was then transported to police headquarters and charged with shoplifting, resisting arrest, possession of anti-theft countermeasure tools and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, pending a court appearance. Patrolman Peter Bylsma was the arresting officer.
• On Jan. 4 at 8 p.m., a 22-year-old Manalapan resident reported that a wallet was taken from an unsecured locker at the Jersey Strong Gym, 300 Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, sometime between 4-6 p.m. The wallet and its contents were valued at $126.
• On Jan. 5 at 6:25 p.m., a 30-year-old Marlboro resident reported the theft of eyeglasses valued at $13,825 that were believed to have been delivered to the wrong individual, possibly in the area of 700 Tennent Road, Manalapan.