• Shoplifting Arrest – On Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at 9:31 p.m., Martin Julian responded to the Wawa located at 800 Lacey Road, Forked River, for a report of an adult male who took food items totaling $7.87 and left the store without paying. Further investigation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Dominick J. Degasperi of 7th Street, Waretown, New Jersey. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and released on a criminal summons for shoplifting.
  • Bicycle Theft – On Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at 4:18 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to Bud Mezara Park, 1400 Lakeside Drive South, Forked River, for a report of a stolen bicycle. Investigation at the scene revealed that the victim had left her 26” Huffy Beach Cruiser, purple in color with a white seat and whitewall tires along with a silver helmet at the park while she went for a brief walk. When she returned to the park, her bicycle and helmet were gone. The bicycle is valued at $120 and the helmet is valued at $40, for a total of $160.
  • Theft – On Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at 3:37 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Slota responded to headquarters to meet with a subject for a theft report. Investigation at the scene revealed that the complainant had left his black Nike sneakers in the west hall lecture room of the Lacey High School located at 73 Haines Street, Lanoka Harbor. When he returned to the room to retrieve them, they were gone. The sneakers were valued at $90 and contained orthotics valued at $400.
  • Burglary (Residential) – On Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 8:25 p.m., Officer Christopher Meyler responded to the 1800 block of Deerhead Lake Drive, Forked River, for a report of a burglary. Investigation at the scene revealed that the homeowner has been in Florida for the past several months and a friend of his was staying in the house until the beginning of January this year. The owner had asked a neighbor to check on the residence and she discovered that the rear door was open, the front door was kicked in, and a bedroom window was smashed out. The neighbor advised that when she had previously checked on the house, there were several laptops and other electronics in plain sight and now they were missing. The actual amount of damage to the residence and stolen property is unknown at this time. The matter is under investigation by the detective bureau.
  • Burglary – On Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 12:43 p.m., Officer John Simonson responded to the Year Round Sportsman Club, located off of Long Ridge Road in Forked River, for a report of a burglary. Investigation at the scene revealed that a large container box stored on the property had been broken into and items stored inside were stolen. The container was secured with multiple locks which had been chiseled off with some type of tool. The criminal mischief to the container box is estimated at $250. The items stolen were a Champion Multi Gas electric generator valued at $800, seven (7) hunting tree stands valued at $700, two (2) sets of climbing sticks valued at $100, and a gas operated handheld brush hog valued at $400. The total amount of property stolen was valued at $2,000. It also appeared that the suspects made entrance into the breezeway of the hunting cabin by taking the screen door off the opening, but were not able to gain entry into the cabin itself. The last known visit to the camp was on or about February 1, 2017.
  • Criminal Mischief (mailbox) – On Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 9:05 a.m., Officer Michael Hein, after responding to a criminal mischief complaint on the 1200 block of Pensacola Road, Forked River, discovered a neighboring residence with damage to its mailbox. The mailbox (large ornamental pelican) had been forcibly removed from the post, causing damage to the post where the base of the pelican rests. The cost to repair the mailbox post is approximately $20.
  • Criminal Mischief (mailbox) – On Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 8:14 a.m., Officer Michael Hein responded to the 1200 block of Pensacola Road, Forked River, for a report of criminal mischief. Investigation at the scene revealed that the complainant’s mailbox had been ripped from the ground and thrown in the driveway. A front window of the residence was also broken. The mailbox did not appear to have any damage. The approximate cost to repair the window is $250.
  • DUI Arrest – On Friday, February 24, 2017, 11:49 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey conducted a motor vehicle stop at Nautilus Boulevard and Route 9 North, Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 77-year-old George J. Hvozda of Tiller Drive, Forked River, for DUI. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Theft of Gasoline – On Friday, February 24, 2017, at 11:03 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey responded to the Wawa located at 800 Lacey Road, Forked River, for a report of theft of diesel fuel. Investigation at the scene revealed that a male subject, operating a silver Dodge pickup truck with a red dirt bike in the bed, dispensed $61.66 dollars worth of diesel fuel into his truck and attempted to pay with a $100 bill. He was advised to go inside to pay as there is no cash available outside after 11:00 p.m. The subject appeared to go inside the store briefly and then exited the parking lot without paying. There is an active investigation into the identity of the male suspect involved in this theft.
  • Criminal Mischief (Township Property) – On Friday, February 24, 2017, at 7:11 p.m., Officer Adam Bylsma was patrolling Gille Park, 56 Manchester Avenue, Forked River, when he observed the two signs located to the left and right of the skate park entrance, covered in derogatory and offensive words. The damage to the signs is estimated to be $50.