Teens charged in string of thefts from vehicles

Freehold Township

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Locking their vehicle when it is unoccupied is something most people know they should do. Some residents may be much more vigilant about heeding those words now.

According to Freehold Township police Detective Sgt. Jerry Kiwit, this summer saw a rash of thefts occur from motor vehicles. Items stolen from the vehicles included cell phones, wallets, purses, credit cards, satellite radios, laptop computers and loose change. In all, 28 unlocked vehicles were hit, mostly on the west side of the township in developments such as Raintree, Stonehurst, Wynnefield, Levitt, Elton Manor, Hunter's Run, Liberty Park, Estates of Freehold and Tricentennial.

Five Freehold Township juveniles between the ages of 15 and 17 were charged on Oct. 10 in connection with 19 of the 28 thefts and with credit card fraud, Kiwit said. The remaining nine thefts are still under active investigation.

Kiwit said the vehicles were entered during the overnight hours on various dates in July and August. On three occasions, keys had been left in the vehicles and they were removed from the locations at which the perpetrators found them. Those three vehicles were recovered, police said.

Because the thefts involved credit cards and cell phones being used after they had been stolen, the thefts seemed to have taken on a life of their own, according to Kiwit, who said that because of the amount and type of stolen goods, the investigations were divided and assigned to four detectives.

Detective Marty Boutote was assigned to investigate the thefts from the vehicles. Detective William Rette was assigned to investigate the stolen vehicles, and Detectives William Peace and William Holohan were assigned to investigate the improper use of the credit cards.

According to Kiwit, Peace and Holohan were able to ascertain the identity of the five juveniles who used the stolen credit cards at the Freehold McDonald's and at the Freehold Raceway Mall. He said some credit cards and cell phones have been recovered.

Through additional investigation, 19 of the 28 thefts were cleared with criminal complaints having been assigned against the five juveniles who, according to Kiwit, walked down streets in various developments trying vehicle door locks to see which ones were unlocked.

The juveniles are not under any confinement now, but are awaiting court proceedings. Kiwit advised all residents to lock their vehicles when they are left unattended.