Two Teens Charged With Burglarizing Lakehurst Restaurant: Police

LAKEHURST, NJ — An 18-year-old from Lakehurst and a 16-year-old from Manchester are facing burglary charges after they were allegedly caught on surveillance camera breaking into a restaurant on Tuesday, Lakehurst police said.

Anthony Dupont, 18, and the 16-year-old, who was not named or identified in any way due to being a juvenile, were arrested Wednesday and charged with burglary, possession of burglar tools, and criminal mischief, Police Chief Eric Higgins said.

Higgins said Lakehurst police officers responded to a report of a burglary at Luigi's restaurant on Union Avenue on Wednesday and reviewed video surveillance that showed the two breaking in about 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Cameras captured the two trying to pry open several doors before gaining entry to the building, Higgins said, but they left empty-handed after the restaurant's alarm system scared them off, he said. Officers reviewing the camera footage believed the one to be Dupont from prior interactions, he said.

Both teens tried to conceal their identities by wearing hooded shirts and neckerchiefs across their faces, Higgins said.

A worker at the restaurant told police that one of the subjects in the footage looked like an individual who had just days prior filled out an application for employment, and officers reviewed the camera footage and identified Dupont filling out an application for employment several days before the break-in, Higgins said.

Further investigation identified several other actors who were possibly involved and identified the 16-year-old juvenile who was with Dupont, he said. Officers also recovered several burglar tools the subjects had dropped when running from the scene, Higgins said.

Dupont and the 16-year-old juvenile were both arrested and charged by Officer Jason Guide, and the 16-year-old was turned over to parents after having been processed. Dupont was released on a summons. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible, Higgins said.

The public is reminded to be on the look out for suspicious activity and that they may submit tips to the police department at 732-657-7812 or online through our website at www.lakehurstpolice.org.

All tips may remain confidential.

Image via Shutterstock