LACEY – A Bayville man was arrested and charged with theft for a series of burglaries that occurred in the area of Cedar Drive in Lanoka Harbor recently, police said.
Jeffrey C. Stiles Jr, 30, was charged on a criminal warrant with three counts of burglary, two counts of theft, one count of criminal attempt to commit theft, one count of criminal trespass, and one count of obstructing the administration of the law.
On April 25, Lacey Police responded to a residence on Cedar Drive for report of a male suspect entering the residence. Police said the unknown male entered the residence through an unlocked front door, was confronted by the resident, and then left.
Further investigation yielded a detailed description of the unknown male from witnesses and video surveillance. Police discovered that the suspect was riding a bicycle and carrying a large backpack while making stops at several residences in the area.
“The male subject was seen riding his bicycle onto several residential properties, where he would check areas of the properties for items of value, enter fenced in areas, as well as knock on doors to check and see if residents were home,” police stated.
Police found that several burglaries and thefts had occurred in the area.
The suspect was later found by police at New Jersey Transit bus stop on Route 9 in Lanoka Harbor and identified as Jeffrey C. Stiles Jr.
Stiles Jr has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
