Middletown Police Press Release

MIDDLETOWN TWP. POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE
Prepared by Det. Lt. Joseph C. Capriotti

At approximately 6:00AM on Monday April 16, 2007 Officer Thomas Russo, Officer Ernest Volkland and Officer Gregory Buhowski responded to the A & P Supermarket on Highway 36 in the Navesink section of the township for a burglary the occurred overnight.

Employees of the supermarket arrived for work and discovered the ATM machine had been knocked over and immediately called the police. The officers discovered the front door had been forcibly pried open and the ATM and coin machine located in the front of the store were ripped open. Further inspection of the interior of the store revealed a safe had been ripped open by using a blow torch that was found at the scene. Additional damage to equipment in the office was noted and an attempt to gain entry into a second safe was made but unsuccessful.

Detective First Class Richard Rast and Detective First Class Adam Finck responded to the store to begin a follow up investigation. Their investigation lead them to Quick Lube Oil Change on Memorial Parkway in Atlantic Highlands near the A & P where another burglary was discovered and acetelyn torches were stolen that matched the ones found in the store.

An unknown amount of money was taken from the ATM, coin machine and the safe. Detectives Rast and Finck are continuing the investigation.