Toms River Man Stole Vodka, Laptop During Home Burglary: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man is facing burglary charges after police say he broke into a home last week and stole a bottle of vodka and a laptop computer.

Kevin Laird, 42, of Raleigh Drive, was arrested Jan. 24 after Toms River Detectives Mark Bajada and Pat Jacques developed information that led them to him, Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

The burglary happened about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, Stocco said. Residents of the Greenwich Court home told police they had been gone for about an hour, and when they returned, they realized someone had been in the house, he said.

Officer Vincent Pedalino found someone had broken the basement window to get into the home, and in the process, cut themselves, leaving blood behind, Stocco said. Once in the home, the suspect not only took the vodka and the laptop, but drank the remainder of a bottle of cough medicine containing hydrocodone, he said.

Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CIU Officer Steve Capuano collected evidence from the house, Stocco said.

The next day, Bajada and Jacques, following up on leads, spoke with Laird and saw he had fresh cuts to his face, Stocco said.

Laird initially claimed that he was attacked inside of his home by a man wielding a pipe, and told the detectives it happened the same day as the burglary. He told Bajada and Jacques the man hit him
in the face, but that he did not wish for the police to be involved, Stocco said.

But as the investigation continued, the detectives determined Laird was the prime suspect in the residential burglary the previous day, he said.

Ultimately, the stolen laptop and bottle of vodka were located inside Laird's home and he was charged with burglary and criminal mischief, Stocco said. He has been released pending a future court date, he said.

Kevin Laird photo courtesy of the Toms River Police Department; police lights image via Shutterstock