Toms River Church Burglarized

A burglary this morning at a landmark Toms River church has police poring over evidence to get a bead on possible suspects.

Police Chief Mike Mastronardy says that one or possibly more people forced through a door at the First Assembly Church of God on Bay Avenue and lugged a 70-pound safe into the basement. There, the safe was breached and looted for more than $500 in cash and checks.

Also this morning on Walnut Street, says Mastronardy, someone smashed a window at TLC Specialties but bolted when an alarm began to sound.

Police describe him as a white male, with a dark beard and moustache, wearing a red pullover or long-sleeved shirt and black pants.

Late Monday afternoon, Nicholas Mayer, 19, of Woodview Road in the township was charged with shoplifting at Sears. Police say security workers in the stor watched him cut tags from X-Box controllers and then try to leave with them.

Authorities say Mayer was also in possession of two syringes and checks stolen from a family business at his arrest, which opens the possibility of more charges.

Police are also in search of a suspect who tried to leave the Home Goods store in Bay Avenue late Sunday afternoon with a half-dozen Ralph Lauren sheets unpaid-for.

According to authorities, the would-be shoplifter piled them into a cart, tried to slug an approaching loss prevention worker, and took off without the merchandise.

They're looking for a black male, about 6'1" tall and 245 pounds. He was said to be wearing a black dress jacket, white T-shirt, and blue jeans. Police say he drove off in a silver Saturn Vue with a temporary sticker in the rear window.

Later in the evening, Gary Reebe, Jr., 23, of Dogwood Lane was charged with DWI and cell-phone violations after narrowly escaping serious injury in a spectacular crash.

Police say Reebe's Honda veered off eastbound Church Road, smacked a utility pole, then crossed the oncoming lanes and rammed a fence at the Toms River Public Works complex.

Gary Reebe Jr 23 of Dogwood Lane was arrested for DWI after his 2010 Honda was eastbound on Church Road and struck a utility pole then crossed the westbound lanes and struck a fence at the Toms River Public Works Facility .   The accident that occurred at 9 p.m. and resulted in no injuries. Traffic Safety Officer David Bartoshek also charged Mr. Reebe with cell phone violation.