Burglar Caught By Galloway Mayor Was Busted Again In AC: Police

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Apparently getting chased down by the Galloway mayor wasn't enough. A man was charged with robbing two Atlantic City stores Saturday, days after he burglarized Galloway Mayor Anthony Coppola's restaurant, police said.

George Dean entered Pete's Convenience Store on Atlantic Avenue at 9:57 a.m. Friday. He carried a large stick and demanded money from the store clerk, police said. Dean, 31, stole money from the register and fled, police said.

The Port Republic man went to GameStop on Atlantic Avenue at 7:49 p.m. that night. He approached an employee with a note demanding money, indicating he had a handgun, police said. Dean fled the store after receiving the money, according to authorities.

Police identified the suspect as Dean and arrested him Saturday. Dean was charged with two counts of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and theft, police said. He was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Galloway's mayor chased Dean down after a previous incident Wednesday. Dean broke into Coppola's restaurant, Fred & Ethel's, for the second night in a row, police said. The mayor caught him and took him to police down the road.

Dean had stolen the keys to several Smithville businesses, police said. Read more: Galloway Mayor Chases Down Man Who Broke Into His Restaurant: PD

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