Police Blotter: Unoccupied Homes Targeted for Scrap Metal

On April 26 an unoccupied home for sale on Beverly Road in Forked River was entered.

The current homeowner returned to the house to check on it and discovered that someone entered the crawl space. The copper water and heating pipes were cut out and stolen. 

The total estimate of the copper is not available. The damage is estimated at $2,500.

Another unoccupied home was entered the previous week. Charles Decker, 22, of Lanoka Harbor and Michael Clinton, 24, of Forked River were arrested on April 14 on burglary charged.

The two Lacey Township males allegedly stole a trailer from an unoccupied home for sale on F Street, police said. The 4 feet by 8 feet trailer, valued at $2,000, contained scrap metal.

Decker and Clinton also tried to cut copper pipes out of the home's crawl space, police said. The home still had water service so the pipes did not get removed. The damage was estimated at $3,000.

Decker was charged with burglary and criminal mischief and was arrested on a warrant issued by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

Clinton was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, theft, and criminal mischief. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail with his bail set at $1,500, with no 10 percent option.

The trailer was recovered and returned to its owner but the scrap metal was sold to a nearby scrap yard.

The following information was provided by Lieutenant James Veltri:

May 3

A resident on Hollywood Boulevard South in Forked River reported that their iPod valued at $250 was stolen from their vehicle. The resident also reported that 40 Nintendo DS games and $35 in cash were stolen from their home.

May 3

Laureen Ginese, 24, of Forked River was arrested on a $250 Holmdel warrant. Ginese posted bail and was released.

May 2

A resident on Harrison Avenue in Forked River reported that $1,500 worth of assorted jewelry was stolen from their home. There was no forced entry

May 2, 2011

Two 3 feet by 5 feet white vinyl garbage bins valued at $350 a piece were stolen from a home on Lakeside Drive North, Forked River.

April 29

Over $1,000 in cash was stolen from Edible Arrangements on Lacey Road in Forked River. There was no sign of forced entry.

April 29

A resident on Devon Street in Forked River reported that someone entered their shed on their property and stole $500 worth of equipment including a chainsaw, a miter saw, and a sawall.

April 28

The front and rear license plate to a vehicle parked on Predmore Avenue in Lanoka Harbor was stolen. The replacement cost is $44.

April 27

Lisa Concannon, 25, of Manahawkin was arrested after the Lacey Township Police reported to a business on Route 9. An employee reported that their wallet containing personal identification and $213 was stolen. Concannon was charged with theft of removable property. Concannon was also found to have a $533 outstanding warrant out of seaside heights and a $1,000 warrant from Atlantic City. Her bail was set at $5,000, with no 10 percent option. Unable to post bail, Concannon was sent to the Ocean County jail.

April 27

A resident on Beach Boulevard in Forked River discovered that their $4,000 outside carrier air conditioning unit was stolen.

April 27

A paddleboat valued at $500 was stolen from a yard on Earie Way in Forked River.

April 27

A Lacey resident reported that their Moultrie Game Camera valued at $350 was stolen.