Arrest Made In Gloucester Twp. Smash-And-Grab Burglaries: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Lawnside man has been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab burglaries that went through multiple towns, including Gloucester Township, authorities announced.

Erik Wallace, 47, has been charged with numerous counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief in connection with burglaries that covered Gloucester Township, Berlin, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Pennsauken, and Somerdale, according to authorities.

Wallace has been connected to three incidents that took place in Gloucester Township on Aug. 18, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer. Wallace was seen in a car that was first stolen in Collingswood on Aug. 11, Mayer said.

Shortly thereafter, officers responded to a burglary in Gloucester City. The next day, the stolen vehicle was seen at a similar style burglary in Haddon Heights, Mayer said.

On Aug. 13, the same car was seen along with a person matching Wallace’s description during two burglaries in Pennsauken, Mayer said. Wallace is then accused of committing four smash-and-grab burglaries in Cherry Hill on Aug. 13 and 14.

A few days later on Aug. 16, police in Somerdale responded to a similar burglary during which the stolen car was reported to have been seen, Mayer said. The Gloucester Township incidents were the last ones that involved this stolen car, according to Mayer. It was found abandoned in Camden the same day as the Gloucester Township incidents, according to Mayer.

Police said Wallace stole a second car, this time in Camden on Aug. 21. He committed one more smash-and-grab burglary, in Berlin, that day, Mayer said.

Police said they found the second stolen car near Wallace’s home on the 200 block of Fairview Street in Lawnside. Wallace attempted to escape, but police said they caught him after a brief foot chase. He was caught while trying to get into the stolen car, Mayer said.

Police said they found items used in the burglaries, a cash register drawer, and a receipt with Wallace’s name on it while searching both stolen cars.

Throughout the investigation, detectives said they obtained surveillance footage from a handful of the burglaries. A man matching Wallace’s description is depicted in multiple videos, Mayer said.

“These crimes spanned across the entire Camden County area and required the coordination of more than eight police departments,” Mayer said. “This case highlights how important communication is between our law enforcement agencies. Without the hard work of detectives and officers from our office as well as the Borough of Berlin, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Gloucester City, Gloucester Township, Haddon Heights, Pennsauken, and Somerdale, who knows how many more crimes could have been committed.”

Wallace was taken to the Camden County Correctional Facility awaiting a Centralized First Appearance.