Howell Man Charged After Stolen Corvette Found At His Home: Police

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell Township man has been charged with receiving stolen property after a classic Corvette and its transit trailer were found at his property, Howell police said Friday.

Thomas McNiece, 41, of Bry Avenue in Howell was arrested May 18 and charged with two counts of receiving stolen property after an investigation led to the discovery that he was in possession of a stolen 1977 Chevrolet Corvette as well as the 20-foot enclosed trailer the vehicle was stored in when it was stolen, Howell Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said.

The vehicle and trailer were reported stolen from the parking lot of the Playdrome bowling alley on Route 37 in Toms River in late February, Antunez said.

On May 17, Howell police received an anonymous tip that a stolen Corvette and trailer may be located at the address where McNiece lives, Antunez said. The next day, Detective Sgt. Jack Headley and Detectives Eric Encarnacion and Robert Ortenzi investigated and found Toms River police had taken a report of a stolen Corvette and trailer in February, then were able to match the vehicle and trailer to those stolen in Toms River and arrest McNiece, Antunez said.

The trailer had been spray-painted black to alter its look and attempt to conceal it better, Antunez said, and it had a fraudulent plaque and vehicle identification number attached to it.

The Corvette itself did not display any obvious signs of damage as a result of the theft, Antunez said, and the victim, Giuseppe Latronico of Toms River, was thrilled to get his vehicle and trailer back after so much time, Antunez said.

McNiece was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute but has been released pending court, according to online inmate records.

Toms River Detective Louis Santora, who was investigating the theft in Toms River, responded to the Howell Police Department and assisted with the investigation.

Anyone wishing to submit an anonymous tip to the Howell Township police department can use the department's new tip line, www.p3tips.com. There is no downloading or registration required to submit a tip.

Giuseppe Latronico of Toms River and his wife are all smiles after they were reunited with Latronico's 1977 classic Corvette and its trailer, which were stolen from Toms River in February. Photo via Howell Township Police