Fraud Arrest- On Thursday, October 31, 2019, at 9:10 a.m., Officers Michael Verwey, Dallas Gant, and Bruce Carver met with a Lanoka Harbor resident reporting fraudulent activity. The victim reported that a delivery truck was at her home with appliances that she did not order. As the investigation continued, the delivery driver received a call from a male suspect changing the delivery location. With assistance from the delivery driver, officers were able to locate two male suspects who were involved with the scam. Abdul Idriss and Mamouda Abdul, both of Brooklyn, New York, were arrested after they attempted to receive the delivery. During the arrests, officers and detectives discovered that the vehicle being driven by the suspects had fictitious tags and an altered vehicle identification number. The investigation revealed that the victim’s credit card information had been stolen and used to order the appliances estimated at $12,000. It appears that the suspects intended to ship the appliances and the vehicle to Ghana.
Warrant Arrest- On the afternoon of October 21, 2019, Officer McKee responded to Wells Fargo Bank for a hit and run accident. Witnesses reported that the driver of a motor home struck the drive thru overhang and left the scene. On Friday, November 1, 2019, at 10:37 a.m., bank employees contacted police reporting that the driver had returned to the bank. Upon the arrival of Officers Michael Verwey, Dallas Gant, and Bruce Carver, the driver was identified as Albert Rentas, 65, of Lanoka Harbor. During the investigation, several outstanding warrants were discovered for Rentas who was placed under arrest. Rentas was confined in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the Middletown and Berkeley Township warrants.
Theft- On Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 6:55 a.m., Officer Noah Schaffer responded to a Sinclair Avenue residence for a theft report. The homeowner reported that during overnight hours, an unknown suspect stole his 1997 Harley Davidson motorcycle from the driveway. The motorcycle was located, undamaged, one block away from the home.
DWI Accident– On Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 7:32 p.m., Officers Jason Lee, Brian Holt and Robert Duffy responded to Route 9 and Laurel Boulevard for a report of a vehicle that struck a utility pole. The driver, 50-year-old Lawrence Lapham of Beachwood, was subsequently arrested for DWI. The front seat passenger, a 40-year-old female, was transported to the hospital for a head laceration and leg pain. Lapham was arrested and charged criminally with Vehicular Assault in addition to summonses being issued for DWI, Open Container in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane.
Shoplifting- On Monday, November 4, 2019, at 11:50 a.m., Officers Darrell Nick and Anthony Ravallo responded to Walmart for a shoplifting. Loss Prevention reported that an unknown male was captured on surveillance video during overnight hours stealing merchandise. The theft is valued at $219.
Theft- On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., Officer Michael Hein met with a Falkenburg Avenue resident in reference to a theft. The victim reported noticing that two of his personal checks were missing and immediately checked his account information. The victim found that the two checks had been cashed in another jurisdiction. The investigation is ongoing.
Shoplifting- On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 4:00 p.m., Officers Darrell Nick and Anthony Ravallo responded to the Home Depot for a shoplifting. The investigation revealed that two suspects purchased items and later returned to shoplift the same items and attempted to return them for a cash refund with the receipt from the earlier purchase. Lawrence Mann, 34, and Shiabon Poff, 40, both of Waretown, were arrested and charged with shoplifting. Both suspects were transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in accordance with bail reform. The theft was valued at $820.