Residents Accused of Spree of Vehicle Crimes

Two Forked River men face multiple charges after an Ocean County grand jury indicted them Thursday in connection with burglaries of several vehicles.

Authorities allege Nicholas Shelby and Thomas Carrano committed a series of auto-related crimes on July 19 in the township.

Shelby is charged with burglary and criminal mischief for entering a 1999 Ford Ranger and causing more than $2,000 worth of damage, the indictment states. He also is accused of burglarizing a 2010 Volkswagon Tigan as well as a 2010 Dodge van that same day. Finally, he is accused of taking one of the cars for a joy-ride.

Carrano faces burglary and criminal mischief charges for the same offense against the Ford Ranger as well as the incidents involving the Volkswagon and Dodge van. However, he also is charged with one count of unlawful taking of a means of conveyance for allegedly taking the Ford Ranger.

Both men were initially lodged in Ocean County Jail. Carrano posted $25,000 bail on Sept. 5, and Shelby posted $10,000 bail on Aug. 12.

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Two men are facing burglary charges after an Ocean County grand jury indicted them in connection with an August incident at Shoreline Sand and Gravel, 1111 W. Bay Ave., Barnegat.

Bernard K. Kappen of Whiting and Paul R. Clifton Jr. of Forked River each face one count of third-degree burglary and one count of third-degree theft for allegedly breaking into the Barnegat business and stealing company items, the indictment states.

Kappen and Clifton Jr. are charged with breaking in on Aug. 19 and stealing property worth more than $500, including an industrial welder, a wash plant motor and a variety of tools. 

Both men were taken to Ocean County Jail on $25,000 bail, no 10 percent option. Kappen posted bail on Aug. 20, and Clifton Jr. posted on Aug. 23.

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A Lanoka Harbor man was indicted Wednesday for allegedly being in possession of stolen laptop computers in the fall of 2010.

Grand jurors found sufficient evidence to charge John A. Kakely of Michelle Court with knowingly being in receipt of nine Sony laptops that he knew to be stolen, the indictment states. Kakely also was charged with one count of dealing in stolen property for allegedly selling one of the laptops on Nov. 15.