Police from Lakewood and Manchester solved a series of burglaries that led to three arrests, said Lakewood police Detective Steve Wexler. An investigation began in Lakewood at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday when police received a call about two men on ATVs burglarizing three vehicles on Hearthstone Drive, Wexler said. Lakewood police Officers Robert Anderson and Anthony Carabello responded to the call, which reported a car burglary in progress, Wexler said.
When police arrived at the 800 block of Hearthstone Drive, they saw two men riding into the woods on ATVs, Wexler said. The officers pursued the men but were unable to catch them, Wexler said.
Later that day, police saw David Regg, 21, of Joe Parker Road, in the area carrying a backpack. He was questioned then arrested after officers found the backpack contained proceeds reported missing from two of the three car burglaries, Wexler said. Then, in a nearby wooded area, police found a stereo that had been reported stolen from the third burglarized vehicle, Wexler said.
On Saturday, Lakewood police were in the area of Vine Street and questioned Steven McDuffie II, 25, of Anthony Court. McDuffie was found with an ATV suspected of being used in connection with the car burglaries, Wexler said.
In addition, Manchester police had previously put out a bulletin about four ATVs that were stolen from the garage of a lawn service company in the Whiting section. They were reported stolen at 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, police said.
McDuffie was charged with possession of stolen property, Wexler said. McDuffie said he had found the ATV in the woods and dragged it to his house, Wexler said. McDuffie had no knowledge of the burglaries and was not charged in connection with them, Wexler said.
Two days later, Manchester police charged Regg and Joshua Feliciano, 19, of Third Street in Manchester with theft of the four ATVs and burglary of the building they were in. Police said Regg and Feliciano entered the building and took the ATVs.
Regg told police he was with Feliciano when they fled from police on Hearthstone Drive, Wexler said. MARGARET F. BONAFIDE/APP
Manchester as in England?
This is what we call good old police work. They didn’t just respond to a call,pursue, lose them and give up. Obviously they stepped up their presence in the area hoping to catch up with them at a later time which they did. They then caught up with a fellow(a few days later) claiming “not to have any clue about the robberies”…Whether we are ready to believe him or not is irrelevant. Bottom line;the police did a real good job here.
Keep it up Lakewood PD!! This is what we call good police work. As a side not maybe we can get officer (Moderated) onto such cases. I think he’d be great. He knows how to stick around one area for hours. Presently his expertise lies solely in issuing tickets literally non-stop but maybe we can channel those talents of his to other more crucial areas. Just a thought.
Overall-Lakewood PD;you’re the best!!(even when you issue tickets so long as you don’t make it your CAREER)
#1 my gosh you don’t know that lakewood bprders with a township called manchester you gotta get out a little more and see the great big world (or ay least ocean county)