Brick Cops Nab Pair Suspected in Post-Sandy Thefts
Stolen air conditioning unit leads to Brick man, Point Pleasant man
A Brick man and a Point Pleasant man have been arrested and charged by Brick police with stealing three air conditioning units from the storm-damaged home of a Brick resident.
The pair are now being investigated for additional thefts in the area as well.
The home that had its air conditioning units stolen had been damaged during Superstorm Sandy and was vacant at the time of the theft, which the resident reported to police Feb. 15, Sgt. Keith Reinhard said.
The Carrier units were valued at about $12,000, and were only eight months old, since the home had been newly constructed before the storm struck, said Reinhard.
An investigation by Detectives Bob Shepherd, Michael Feeney and Thomas Cooney eventually led to the arrests of Steven A. Smith, 49, of Central Boulevard in Brick, and Edward Kinney III, 34, of Salem Road in Point Pleasant Borough.
Both men were charged with theft of movable property. Smith's bail was set by Municipal Court Judge Robert Lepore at $75,000 cash; Kinney was processed and released on a summons.
"It is believed that these two individuals are responsible for numerous thefts throughout shore towns in both Ocean and Monmouth counties that were affected by Hurricane Sandy," said Reinhard, in a statement.
The vehicles that were used in the suspected thefts were a white, 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup truck, license plate NJ PZB-33A; and gray 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck, license plate NJ WSY-84L.
Brick police are asking anyone with any further information regarding the two suspects to contact Detective Daniel Waleski at 732-262-1120 or their local police department.
"The Brick Township Police Department is also encouraging folks to label their outdoor air conditioning units with their names and/or addresses with some type of permanent marking," Reinhard said in the statement. "This will assist police officers throughout the local towns if they are investigating person(s) with these air conditioner units in their possession."
paulie
1:08 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Anyone looting after what we have all been through with Sandy should be shot. I realize this in not politically correct but these guys are just plain scum.
diana man
6:50 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
what makes your think you need to be politically when telling the truth.if more people spoke the truth the country certainly would be better for it,,,,,,,
Chu-Man-Fu
1:15 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Throw the book at these scumbags and others like them ! It's bad enough that peoples homes were ravaged and their lives destroyed by the storm then these lowlives have to come in and add insult to injury by stealing equipment that may still have been operational. I had people knocking on my door at 7 in the morning wanting to take things that we had salvaged and stored near our house. They were not so politely told that if it's at the curb help yourself. Otherwise GT*O and don't come back. Many thanks to the TRTPD for establishing checkpoints and preventing this type of scum from getting to the eastern side of Silverton, at least until power and lighting was restored. At least at that point we were able to watch out for ours and our friends/neighbors property. My sentiment is that I paid for these items, if I can scrap them and recover a few $$ then I should be able to - What gives you the right to steal and make money off of my misery - get a freakin' legitimate job and stay off of my property.....
Chu-Man-Fu
1:22 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
These bloodsuckers remind me of the couple that stole the metal garage door from a house in manchester where a man died in a house fire - that happened within an hour and a half of when the police left the scene and crime scene tape was still up - Greedy Selfish Pieces of Excrement ! I hope you rot in jail !
Alicia78
1:17 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Haha you losers got caught!!
Chu-Man-Fu
2:22 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
BTW - Thank You B.T.P.D. for your follow-up work and nabbing this pair - I'm sure there will be plenty more to follow - My apologies for not saying Thank You first and foremost - Your efforts are most appreciated.
WMS826
2:45 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
How much money could be in this scrapping. I swear, after your gas and time how much are these guys making. Just look at the trucks that travel down Herbertsville rd going to Blewets with all junk.
Now Brick Recycle is opening up a new place on Route 34 in Wall where 84 Lumber was. There must be money in it but is it worth it is the question.
Anyway glad these guys got caught. Where is the hope and change we were promised, why do people not have jobs and are oing this instead.
Nicole O
2:46 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
"A couple of creeps"
cindy palmer
2:51 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
wow. Most of these people lost EVERYTHING...and somebody is gonna take more? Thank God there nwere more people that helped their neighbor than people like this.
Chu-Man-Fu
3:29 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
For what it's worth - I had my nephew scrap some material from my house - it was mixed metals, copper, cast iron, and general stuff - there was 941 lbs in total - after 3 trips through the scale due to the various types of stuff we grossed $194.00. By the time you figure your gas, mileage, back breaking work, wear and tear on your vehicle, and time what did we actually net - Not a whole lot. But most of these people that are scrapping have nothing better to do and it buys them a six pack and a half pint and a dollar burger to sustain them. They sure as hell aren't feeding a family or making a ton of money unless they can manage to pick up a half ton per day of the more valuable metals and they have to prove ownership. I don't begrudge anybody trying to make a living but for goodness sake don't do it by stealing from me or those of us who are already suffering and faced with outrageous financial burdens trying to recoup what we've lost ..... Like I said earlier - Get a legitimate job and stop preying on the unfortunate. I only wish I had videoed the tug of war over an extension cord that occurred in front of my house. How much could that be worth ?
Don Lee
11:14 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
I don't think it is scrapping---our work had two "new" units (months old) cut off the building over Thanksgiving---the thieves left the three old units !
joieR
3:53 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wow that really pisses me off I'am glad that got caught, but how dare they.... Myself & my husband as many got denied help that are taxes payers that support FEMA, & these people just TAKE !!!
George
4:08 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Add some community service work to their fines and other punishments... cleaning out damaged houses (under close supervision, of course).
mineeeemoh
5:42 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Man, if you put a rug on the guy on the left he could be mistaken for someone else.
Ann
5:51 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
It sickens me that we live among such LOSERS!
Chu-Man-Fu
3:52 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Ann - I'd prefer to think that it is sickening that we allow such losers to live amongst us. Either way you're right they're LOSERS !
Tommy
6:10 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I was told you get about $40.00 for a condenser at the scrap yard.
William J Moss
9:08 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Impound the trucks . Used in commission of a crime.
Resident of Lacey
9:44 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Nope, SCRAP the trucks used by the scrapers and donate the money back to the community to help us sandy victims.
clamdigger
8:02 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
why donate back to sandy "victims", sell off the trucks and have those two make full restitution to the homeowner.
fhead
2:06 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
scrap d light. steven a smith , isnt that the same clown on espn?
Revolution
4:18 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
they have not been convicted of any crimes and their photos are being published.
doesnt this violate the privacy act?