Burglary Arrest**

LACEY: During the week of Sunday, February 12, 2023, the Lacey Township Police Department responded to three residential burglaries on Roanoke Drive, Forked River. The suspect forced entry into each of the homes through various means and removed, or attempted to remove, personal property. Items valued in excess of $2,000.00 were ultimately stolen from the homes, and damage valued in excess of $1,500.00 was caused during the commission of the burglaries.

The Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau began an investigation, during which a suspect, John Cottrell, 46, of Jackson Township was identified. Court authorized search warrants were obtained for John’s residence and vehicle, and executed. Property belonging to the victims and additional evidence associated with the investigation was discovered and seized during the execution of the search warrants. As a result of the investigation, John was charged with three counts of Burglary, two counts of Theft, on count of Criminal Attempt – Theft, and
three counts of Criminal Mischief. John was served with his copies of the criminal complaint at the Ocean County Correctional Facility, where he was being held on unrelated charges.