Brick Man Charged In 21 Vehicle Burglaries In Lacey: Police

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Brick Township man was one of two charged Wednesday in connection with 21 motor vehicle burglaries in Lacey earlier this week, police said.

Michael Britton, 31, of Brick, and Michael Connett, 35, of Bayville have been charged with 21 counts of burglary and one count of theft in excess of $5,000, Lacey Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said Thursday.

DiBella said numerous residents of Lacey's Lanoka Harbor section reported their unlocked vehicles had been broken into and items taken. The total value of the thefts were more than $5,000, the chief said.

"From the 21 unlocked vehicles that were entered, some victims reported minimal thefts including loose change, while others had extensive loss including cash and electronics," DiBella said.

Lacey Police Officer John Simonson stopped a vehicle at 3:22 p.m. on May 8 near Deerhead Lake and Lakeside drives for failure to signal, DiBella said, and further investigation led Simonson to believe it was the vehicle suspected of being involved in the burglaries. Detectives were able to positively identify the two people in the vehicle Simonson stopped the following day, he said.

Detectives from Lacey and Berkeley Township executed a search warrant at Connett's home and recovered numerous stolen items, DiBella said.

Britton, who had an outstanding no-bail warrant after failing to appear in Ocean County Superior Court, was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, where he remained in custody as of Thursday.

Connett was released on his own recognizance in accordance with bail reform, DiBella said.

Michael Britton photo via Ocean County Corrections website