Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Two Men Charged In Theft Of Air Conditioning Unit From Sunrise Beach Home

One caught after foot chase, the other turned himself in; both face numerous charges, police chief says

Two men who attempted to cut an air conditioning unit from a Tiller Drive home in Sunrise Beach have been apprehended, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Police received a call at 9:10 a.m. today from an alert resident who saw the men in a silver/grey pickup truck cutting an air conditioning unit from the home, the chief said.

The resident was home at the time of the incident. His car was in the garage with the door closed.

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"So it appeared no one was home when the two subjects backep up onto the property and stole the air conditioning unit," Paprota said.

Officer Louis Brignola located the truck leaving the area and stopped it near the 7-11 store in Lanoka Harbor. The two men then fled on foot, he said.

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Sgt. James Tranz pursued 20-year-old John Clifton on foot and apprehended him in the wooded area behind the 7-11 store. The other subject - identified as Casey Sinopoli, 18, Lanoka Harbor - ran into the woods. An arrest warrant was issued for Sinopoli, but he contacted police two hours later and turned himself in, Paprota said.

The stolen air conditioning units were found in the bed of the truck the two abandoned when they fled the scene at the motor vehicle stop, the chief said.

Sinopoli was charged with third-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree obstruction. Further investigation at police headquarters led to an additional theft charge for an unrelated theft incident that occurred on April 26 on Sinclair Avenue in Lanoka Harbor, Paprota said.

Sinopoli was released from police custody after being processed and served with a criminal warrant and a criminal summons for the April 26 theft from the backyard of a Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor residence, the chief said.

Clifton was charged with charged with third-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and fourth-degree obstruction. Clifton was transported to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $10,000 bail on the criminal charges. Clifton also had four additional active warrants for his arrest, including Lacey Township, $750; Beachwood, $500; Beachwood, $250; and Waretown, $250; totaling $1,750, Paprota said.


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