A three-month long investigation by investigators from the Manchester, Toms River, and Berkeley Township Police Departments resulted in the dismantling of a commercial burglary ring, the recovery of tens of thousands of dollars in stolen items and the arrests of multiple individuals. 43-year-old, Craig Orler of Manchester, 49-year-old, James Bendyna, and 52-year-old, Roy Bowman both of Philadelphia, have been charged in connection with numerous commercial burglaries throughout the Ocean County area. Craig Orler faces multiple charges for money laundering, being the leader of an organized retail theft enterprise, burglary, theft, criminal mischief, eluding police, resisting arrest, and possession of a control dangerous substance. Bendyna and Bowman both face multiple charges for burglary, theft, and criminal mischief.
Bendyna was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday, May 20th in Philadelphia; however, Orler fled from officers as they attempted to stop his vehicle; a 2014 Dodge Ram pickup truck. As Orler fled from officers, he drove his vehicle onto the Heritage Minerals property off of Northampton Boulevard on the border of Manchester and Toms River. His truck was later located partially submerged in a small body of water on the property. Upon disabling his vehicle, Orler fled on foot into the vast wooded property. He was later apprehended in Manchester after investigators received a tip from the public. Bowman has not yet been apprehended and is believed to be in the Philadelphia area.
The commercial burglaries occurred over the span of three months and resulted in the theft of vehicles, trailers, outdoor power equipment, cartons of cigarettes, CBD products, and cash with a combined estimated value of approximately $100,000.
After an exhaustive effort by the lead investigators, Det. Adam Guker of the Manchester Township Police Department, and Det. Mark Bajada of the Toms River Police Department, Orler, Bendyna and Bowman were identified as suspects in these crimes. Detectives then began surveilling Orler over several weeks, which led to the identification of three addresses, two storage units and two vehicles used to store the stolen equipment/merchandise between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. During the surveillance, detectives also witnessed Orler purchase numerous all-terrain vehicles worth tens of thousands of dollars with proceeds derived from this criminal enterprise.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, investigators executed seven search warrants between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The searches recovered a large quantity of the stolen proceeds, and further evidence suggesting an even larger involvement by Orler in this criminal enterprise. In addition, numerous assets, including the four all-terrain vehicles, were seized pending forfeiture.
The Manchester, Toms River, and Berkeley Township Police Departments would like to thank the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, the United States Marshals Service, the Robbinsville Township Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Maryland State Police, for their collective and cooperative assistance in this investigation. Additionally, we would like to thank the many individuals who provided tips to the involved agencies as to Orler’s whereabouts. With the arrest of these suspects, business owners throughout Ocean County can rest a little easier knowing this criminal enterprise is out of commission.
Anyone having information regarding any commercial burglary which occurred in Manchester Township within the last few months is encouraged to contact Detective Adam Guker at 732-657-2009, ext. 4210. As a reminder, anonymous tips can be submitted online at www.manchesterpolicenj.com. Tips may also be submitted through private Facebook message.