Crime & Safety

Hammer-Wielding Brick Man Charged in Rite Aid Burglary

Anthony Azevedo, 26, was arrested early Monday

A 26-year-old township man was behind bars Monday after being arrested outside the Burnt Tavern Road Rite Aid store on burglary charges.

Anthony Azevedo, 26, of Sawmill Road, was arrested after Ptl. Scott Smith investigated a call around 1:10 a.m. Monday about a suspicious car in the parking lot of the CVS store, also on Burnt Tavern Road, according to Capt. John Rein. After he heard banging noises coming from the Rite Aid pharmacy located down the stree, Smith drove there and saw a man, later determined to be Azevedo, swinging a hammer against the store's drive-in window.

After first trying to walk away, Rein said Azevedo complied with Smith's order to drop the hammer and stop. He was placed under arrest without incident.

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A further check of the pharmacy by police indicated that Azevedo attempted to smash the drive-in window but was not successful in gaining entry before Smith arrived on scene, Rein said.  A GMC Sonoma truck, later determined to be the vehicle Azevedo had been driving, was fund on Tanner Court, a short distance from the pharmacy.  The vehicle was seized pending further investigation, said Rein.

Azevedo faces charges of burglary; criminal mischief; and possession of burglary tools (the hammer).

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bail was set by Brick Municipal Court Judge Robert LePore at $20,000 no 10 percent option.  Azevedo was unable to post bail and was transported to the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.

Detective Jason Mathews is continuing the investigation.


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