Cameras Assist In Toms River Burglary Arrests

Cameras helped Toms River police in an investigation that led to the arrest of a burglary suspect, authorities aid.

The arrest happened on Wednesday after police were dispatched to 943 Route 166, at Bombay Food and International Grocery, for a reported burglary, police said.

Around 6:50 a.m., the store's manager, Mohamed Elgendy, told police he discovered the rear door to the business had been pried open after opening for the day, police said. He also noticed that three display cases containing $2700 worth of scratch off lottery tickets, along with $500 of Marlboro cigarettes, were stolen from the counter area.

While reviewing external surveillance video from Bombay and other adjacent businesses, both suspects, Michael Morgan and Erika Cruz, were identified by police and arrested hours later, police said.

Further investigation revealed both Morgan and Cruz immediately cashed in tickets
totaling $600 and attempted to cash in additional tickets at other local convenience stores but were unsuccessful. The lottery commission had already shut down the stolen tickets reported by Bombay Foods, police said.

Morgan was housed in the Ocean County Jail and Cruz was released on her own recognizance.