Tip Leads Police on Search for Suspicious Person in Little Silver

A call from a Queens Drive South resident to police reporting a suspicious individual in a neighboring yard triggered almost a two-hour search on Wednesday in Little Silver and caused a nearby school to keep students inside at recess.

In the end, Chief Dan Shaffery told Patch that while they did not discover any crimes committed, he was glad the caller did not hesitate to report suspicious activity following a string of daytime burglaries in the borough.

"They did the right thing in calling," said Shaffery. "I'd much rather come out and find nothing."

The 11 a.m. phone call reported an individual walking through a Prospect Avenue yard wearing dark clothing with a hood pulled overhead. Patrols were in the area, said Shaffery, so they were quickly on the scene.

Officers ran into a contractor doing irrigation who reported seeing two suspicious individuals. The subject or subjects took off into the wooded area around Prospect Avenue and Queens Drive and officers searched until 12:48 p.m. without success.

Shaffery said that officers from Oceanport, West Long Branch, Shrewsbury as well as the Sheriff's Department helped search the area. The Long Branch K-9 Unit also had two dogs on the scene.

"At no time was anyone in any danger," said Shaffery. "Every precaution was exercised."

Parents of students received a letter home explaining that children were kept inside for recess on Thursday as a precaution.

"At approximately 12:45, the LSPD informed us that all school related activities could resume as normal and we went on with the rest of the day," Little Silver School Superintendent Carolyn Kossack wrote in the letter.

Shaffery said that there have been reports of daytime burglaries in surrounding towns -- like Oceanport, Shrewsbury and West Long Branch -- and all departments were working together to catch the thieves.

"We do the same for each other," said Shaffery. "We're all in this together."