Home Maintenance Workers Charged With Stealing Copper Wire

Two employees of a winterizing company were charged with stealing copper wire from a Lacey home, police said.

Thomas Keubler, 33, of Hammonton and Michael Simmons, 34, of Jackson were arrested after an Elwood Street resident reported two suspicious males in the area at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 21.

Police located a pickup truck in front of a vacant house in the area. The house was for sale, police said.

Keubler and Simmons told the police they were in the area winterizing and doing maintenance for banks on foreclosed homes, police said. The men allegedly stole copper wire and pipes out of a home.

They were charged with criminal mischief and theft of movable property. Keubler and Simmons were processed and released. 

Lt. Scott Tirella provided the following information:

Dec. 26
Daniel Buchta, 24, of Forked River was served several motor vehicle summonses after police responded to a car accident at 1:36 a.m.

A car was located on the front yard of a Lakeside Drive East home. Buchta allegedly struck a street sign and then bushes in the front yard.

Buchta was located hiding in a wooded area near the intersection of Route 9 and Lakeside Drive East.

He was arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.

The Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit assisted. 

Dec. 24
Jessica Woolnough, 27, of Lakewood was charged with shoplifting after she allegedly stole $93.47 worth of merchandise from Walmart. 

Dec. 23
A vehicle fire was reported at a residence on Lake Barnegat Drive at 4:15 p.m. The owner of the 1992 Isuzu pickup truck was working on the vehicle when it caught on fire from the engine compartment. The vehicle sustained extensive damage. The Forked River Fire Department extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. 

Dec. 21
Shamarr Hullett, 34, of Jackson was stopped at 2:41 p.m. on West Lacey Road. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, obstructing passage of another vehicle and tinted windows. 

Dec. 21
Marjorie Pcolar, 22, of Toms River was served several motor vehicle summonses after a car accident in Lacey at 3:05 a.m.

Police were dispatched to Lakeside Drive North on report of a car that was struck. The driver and passenger allegedly left the scene of the accident and were located at a home in Forked River.

Police found that Pcolar struck a vehicle on Tappen Street in Forked River, sustaining severe front-end damage. The car was located on Lakeside Drive North.

Pcolar was charged with DWI, reckless driving, driving while suspended, leaving the scene of the accident and failure to report an accident. 

Dec. 20
Shannon Augustino was arrested at a Chelsea Street address for two warrants out of Lacey totaling $1,083. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail.