Brick Man Charged In Multiple Unlocked-Car Burglaries

A Brick Township man has been charged with theft in connection with a string of car burglaries in the Sutton Village neighborhood that occurred early Monday.

Michael T. Wardell, 22, of Briar Mills Drive, was arrested Monday afternoon, Brick Capt. Ronald Dougard said, and charged with theft in the case.

Dougard said Wardell is accused of entering more than 10 unlocked cars in Sutton Village sometime overnight Sunday into Monday, and taking items from them.

Police were called at 6 a.m. Monday as residents reported the burglaries, Dougard said.

Later that afternoon, one of the victims advised Brick Township Police that a credit card that had been taken during the burglaries was used at several local establishments. Detectives Gregory Mullarkey, Daniel Waleski and Thomas Cooney tracked the fraudulent use of the stolen card and ultimately were able to connect it to Ramsey A. Jones-Moore, 23, of Briar Mills Drive, Dougard said.

Jones-Moore was located by Mullarkey and Waleski as he was walking in the area of Van Zile Road and Route 70. He was taken to headquarters and charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and then released on a criminal summons with a pending court date, he said.

As the investigation continued, the detectives were able to identify Wardell as the person who entered the cars, Dougard said. He was located at his home and arrested on an outstanding robbery warrant and was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

Additional charges for Wardell are pending review of the case by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. The investigation is continuing and anyone who believes that they may have also been a victim is asked to contact Detective Thomas Cooney at 732-262-4708. They can also contact the Brick Township Police directly at 732-262-1100.

(Photo credit: Michael T. Wardell, Ocean County Corrections)