Howell Man Charged In Theft of Wallet From Church

A Howell Township man has been charged with theft and credit card fraud after he allegedly stole a wallet from a woman’s purse at a Howell church, police said

Frank Masone, 23, has been charged with the theft, which occurred on May 14 at the St. William the Abbot Church on Lakewood Allenwood Road, Howell Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd said.

Dodd said Masone was identified through tips received after his photo and information about the incident was posted on social media.

Dodd said Masone is accused of going to the church on May 14 about 6 p.m., removing a woman’s wallet from her purse and then using her credit cards at Target, WalMart, BJ’s, a Gulf gas station and Wawa, Dodd said.

He was located in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where he had been held in lieu of $2,500 bail since he was arrested May 18 on charges he took a Jeep Cherokee belonging to his parents without their permission, according to court documents.