West Deptford Man Charged in Multiple Burglaries

A West Deptford man has been charged in a pair of burglaries in the township in which about $24,000 in stolen electronics and jewelry were resold for profit, West Deptford Police announced Tuesday morning.

Daniel M. Thomson, 28, has been connected to two recent burglaries in West Deptford.

On July 29, a resident from Buxton Court (Merivan Farms) reported that their residence was burglarized by way of forced entry into a basement window.

About $10,000 in assorted jewelry and electronics was stolen from the residence.

After a thorough investigation, West Deptford Police developed Thomson and Michael J. Whyte, 29, of Gloucester City, as suspects.

The following day, Whyte was stopped in his vehicle in the White Swan Trailer Park. A consent search of his vehicle revealed he was in possession of a Fender guitar and a Playstation III, which were proceeds from the burglary.

Whyte was arrested for receiving stolen property and transported to the West Deptford Police Department for processing.

During an interview, Whyte provided a statement advising that he was not involved in the burglary, but he knew the property was stolen and that he sold the items at various second hand dealers for Thomson.

Whyte also admitted to receiving a sum of money from Thomson for selling the items. Whyte was issued summonses for receiving stolen property and released on a summons pending court.

Later that day, Thomson was arrested at a residence in Westville Borough on unrelated warrants. Thomson was transported to the West Deptford Police Department for processing.

During an interview, Thomson, admitted to committing the burglary. He stated that Whyte was not involved in the burglary, but did sell the property for him.

Thomson said Whyte sold the jewelry to a second hand dealer in Camden City and the electronics to various other places in Gloucester County. Thomson was issued summonses for burglary, theft and criminal mischief and released pending court.

On Aug. 3, a resident from Bedford Terrace reported that their residence was burglarized by way of forced entry into a basement window.

About $14,000 in assorted jewelry was stolen from the residence. West Deptford Police developed Thomson as a suspect in this case as well.

They responded to his residence on Bedford Terrace and arrested him on an unrelated warrant. Thomson was transported to police headquarters for processing.

At police headquarters, Thomson provided a statement and confessed to committing the burglary in the early morning hours of Aug. 2.

Thomson advised that he and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Janae Heffernan, of Westville, sold the jewelry at a second hand dealer in Camden City for about $300.

Thomson was charged on warrants with burglary, theft of moveable property and criminal mischief.

Blanket bail was set at $10,000 on all charges. Thomson was lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail. Heffernan was charged on a summons in Westville Borough for receiving stolen property.

All stolen property was recovered from the second hand dealer and returned to the owner.