LAKEWOOD, NJ - A Lakewood man is facing multiple burglary and theft charges after police say he broke into local synagogues overnight and stole money from donation and charity boxes, the Lakewood Police Department said.
Naor Chen, 24, was arrested May 7 following an investigation that began in March 2026, when detectives started looking into a series of incidents in which an individual entered synagogues during overnight hours and removed cash from donation and charity boxes.
Through surveillance footage, investigative techniques, patrol operations, and assistance from the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, detectives identified Chen as the suspect, police said Tuesday.
On May 7, detectives executed court-authorized search warrants at a residence and vehicle connected to the investigation. Chen was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings.
Detectives said they expect several additional burglary cases to be cleared as a result of the arrest.
"This arrest was the result of outstanding detective work and coordination between our patrol officers, detectives, and law enforcement partners," Chief Gregory Meyer said. "These incidents targeted places of worship and created understandable concern within our community. I'm proud of the work done by our officers to identify the suspect and bring this investigation to a close."
The investigation remains ongoing, police said.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Lakewood, NJ Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.