A serial Manchester burglar in custody, thanks for the vigilance of a concerned citizen.

On Tuesday, September 3rd, a series of vehicle burglaries occurred in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester Township, with approximately a dozen incidents reported. The police swiftly gathered evidence, including video surveillance footage capturing the suspect in the act. This footage was also shared with the public through a social media post.

The following morning, on Wednesday, September 4th, at around 6:30 a.m., a vigilant resident in Pine Lake Park alerted the police after noticing a suspicious male matching the suspect’s description. Responding officers identified the individual as Cody Diaz, a 30-year-old resident of Toms River.

During the investigation, Diaz was found in possession of a stolen bicycle and items taken from the previous day’s burglaries, leading to his arrest. Additional evidence was collected, further linking Diaz to several of the reported vehicle burglaries.

Diaz has been charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft, and receiving stolen property. He is currently being held at Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

We encourage the community to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Additionally, please ensure that your vehicles are securely locked to help prevent further incidents.

Anyone having any information regarding additional vehicle burglaries is urged to contact the Manchester Township Police, Detective Richard Conklin at 732-657-2009, ext. 4211.