Three Rounded Up in Barnegat Burglary Probe

Two suspects, one already in stir on drug counts, are charged with a string of Barnegat home burglaries, and a local businessman is accused of moving some of the goods.

Jason Cranmer, 30, of Manahawkin, and Charles Eble III, 39, of Barnegat, face charges in connection with lootings between February 12 and March 24 on Bilge Avenue, Ida Court, Starboard Avenue and Gunning River Road, according to township police. Jim Episale, 71, of Manahawkin, is charged with fencing.

Cranmer was charged on March 26 with burglary and theft and placed in the Ocean County Jail  in Toms River, in default of $15,000 bail. Episale was apprehended the following day and released on a summons to await a court date, police said.

Eble, in the jail on a drug arrest, was charged April 1 with four counts of burglary, two counts of third-degree theft, one count of fourth-degree theft, two counts of criminal mischief, and receiving stolen property, police said. A total of $42,500 was added to his bail.

According to investigators, Detective William Hetrick connected a Tag Heuer watch reported stolen to a transaction at a local business. During Eble's drug arrest, officers in the narcotics unit found a diamond tennis bracelet that had been reported stolen, police said. Their findings led to Episale's emergence as the fencing suspect, police said.

No other stolen items were recovered, police said.