Police arrested two Lakewood residents who they say broke the front door of a pharmacy on Route 9 North, but could not get inside. Around 2 a.m. Monday, Officer Chris McCormack was on patrol when he saw a suspicious vehicle pulling out of the Chadwick Square Shopping Center, police said. He began to follow the car, and around the same time, police were notified about an activated burglar alarm at Tony’s Family Pharmacy in the same shopping center, said Detective Sgt Jerry Kiwit. So McCormack followed the vehicle to McDonald’s on Route 9 South, while another officer – Ralph Donato — went to the pharmacy and found the front door smashed, the sergeant said.

Police said they arrested the two occupants — Joseph McSulla Jr., 30, and Lauren Pierce, 25, — of the vehicle and found a hammer inside.

Police believe the pair tried to break into the pharmacy, but were deterred by the lock on the door.

McSulla and Pierce were both charged with conspiracy, burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief.

McSulla was sent to the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $44,000; Pierce was processed and released.

Sgt. Daniel Pasquinucci and Detective William Holohan assisted in the investigation. APP