Police follow footprints in snow to teenage burglary suspects

Ocean Township — Two teenagers have been accused of stealing items from parked vehicles in the Wanamassa neighborhood.
According to the Ocean Township Police Department, on Feb. 2, at approximately 1:37 a.m., officers responded to the area of Spruce Avenue and Appleby Drive on a report of two suspicious people looking into cars.
When police arrived in the area, they discovered several cars had been entered and the subjects were no longer in the area. Officers at the scene discovered two sets of footprints in the freshly fallen snow. Officers followed the footprints to a pair of Ocean Township teens walking on Rustic Drive in the Middlebrook Apartment Complex.

An investigation revealed that the two, ages 14 and 15, had entered vehicles and removed personal property. The two juveniles were taken into custody and eventually turned over to their guardians.
Officers are working on identifying victims and returning the stolen items to them.

Both juveniles will be charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. The charges will be referred to the Monmouth County Family Division Court for disposition.

Officers involved in the investigation included Sergeant Paul Flammia, Officers Mark Del Tin, Nicholas Castellano, Brendan Bernhard, Alon Bercovicz and Detective Jeffrey Malone

Police are asking residents throughout the township to take extra care in locking their vehicles and parking in a lighted area at night whenever possible. Police also advise removing cash and portable electronic devices such as iPods, cell phones and GPS units from the vehicle when parking and leaving the vehicle. Do not leave anything of value that can easily be seen from outside the vehicle.

Anyone that may have information or witnessed any suspicious activity is asked to contact detective Jeffrey Malone at the Ocean Township Police Detective Bureau at 732-531-1800.

Also, if you suspect your vehicle was in fact entered, please notify the police prior to going through it or driving it away.