A Toms River 30-year-old is accused of looting jewelry from a house on his own block - and police say photos of the missing items were valuable investigative tools.

loading...

Charles J. Smith III was charged with burglary and theft Friday and placed in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $70,000 bail.

According to police, several rooms of the house on the 800 block of Ocean View Drive house were ransacked between March 2 and March 21, while the occupants were enjoying a vacation.

Smith is accused of breaking in through the back door and pawning the jewelry. Investigators are still trying to retrieve the goods.

The owners had kept photos of the items, a practice that police urge all property and business owners to undertake in the event of a police probe or insurance claim for burglary, theft, fire or flood.

More From 92.7 WOBM