Galloway Township Man Connected To 70 Burglaries: Police

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Galloway Township man who broke his ankle jumping from the roof of a Gloucester Township business on Christmas Eve has been connected to at least 70 commercial burglaries, Haddon Township police announced.

Dennis Niceler, 56, was arrested by Gloucester Township police during the early morning hours of Dec. 24, 2017. He was arrested when, realizing he was stuck on the roof of a business he was attempting to burglarize, he jumped from the roof in an attempt to escape, but ended up breaking his ankle and being taken to Cooper University Hospital, police said at the time. Niceler was charged on a criminal summons with trespassing, resisting by flight and possession of burglar tools in that incident.

Read more here: Aspiring Grinch Breaks Ankle In Attempted Business Burglary

Gloucester Township police then shared information with the Haddon Township Police Department after there were several similarities recognized between the Christmas Eve burglary and incidents in Haddon Township.

First, there was a burglary at Giumarello’s Restaurant, located at 329 Haddon Avenue, Haddon Township that happened overnight from Aug. 14 to Aug. 15, 2016.

“Detectives investigating the scene discovered through surveillance evidence that the suspect concealed his identity by wearing a ski mask and gloves and spent a significant amount of time on scene. Also notable, was the suspect’s unique methodical approach to burglarizing the business,” Haddon Township police said.”Months later, on December 14, 2016, Haddon Township police officers were called to another overnight restaurant burglary, which occurred at The Taproom & Grill located at 427 W. Crystal Lake Avenue, Haddon Township, New Jersey. While processing this scene, detectives began to notice numerous similarities to the previous burglary at Giumarello’s.

“With no witnesses to these crimes, the absence of DNA or fingerprint evidence, and no suspicious vehicles or license plate evidence captured on area surveillance systems, detectives began to track any similar restaurant, bar and commercial burglaries throughout the South Jersey region. As they tracked these crimes, they began to identify numerous burglaries they felt strongly were committed by the same suspect.”

In each burglary, the perpetrator wore the same attire, had a similar physique and posture, would cut alarm wires and exterior audible devices, would redirect cameras and disable lighting and would always target offices and safes. So detectives began looking back at previous burglaries over the years, and discovered a pattern for the burglaries dating back to 2013.

After Niceler’s arrest, Haddon Township police obtained search warrants for his car and electronic devices. They later executed a search warrant at his home in Galloway Township. Detectives learned he would select his targets by doing a significant amount of research on each business, police said. He used Google and Bing maps, Facebook photos, restaurant websites and virtual tours to gather as much information as possible.

“Through those sources he was able to establish business layouts, door and window locations, office locations and, in some cases, alarm panel and safe locations,” police said. “We would like to commend the Haddon Township Criminal Investigation Division for their teamwork and dedication, without which success of this magnitude would not have been possible. Special recognition is given to Detective Timothy Hak for his tenacity, diligence and investigative expertise. Finally, the Haddon Township Police Department would like to thank the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police Real Times Crime Center South, the Gloucester Township Police Department, the Berlin Borough Police Department and the Berlin Township Police Department for the assistance they provided throughout this investigation. With the arrest of this suspect, business owners throughout South Jersey can rest a little easier knowing he will hopefully be out of commission.”