On Sunday evening, January 21, 2018, at approximately 8:37 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to Constitution Boulevard in the Crestwood Village III section of the Township for the report of a car burglary.  Upon arrival, officers met with the caller who reported that someone had entered her unlocked vehicle which was parked in front of her parent’s residence and stole her debit card and $4.00 in cash. The victim reported that shortly after the theft occurred, that she was notified by her bank that someone had attempted to use her stolen debit card at several local businesses. Patrolman Micciulla, in an attempt to further investigate the incident, responded to these businesses and retrieved video surveillance. After reviewing the video surveillance and conferred with other Manchester police officers, as well as citizens of the community, Ptl. Micciulla was able to develop a possible suspect, 40-year-old Crestwood Village V resident, Anthony Pope. 

On Monday, January 22, 2018, Patrolman Micciulla, along with members of the department’s Investigations Bureau, responded to Pope’s Penwood Drive residence. Once at the residence, the officers were able to definitively determine that Anthony Pope was, in fact, the suspect on the video attempting to use the stolen debit card.  Anthony Pope was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to Manchester Township Police headquarters for processing.  At headquarters, Pope was charged with one count each of burglary to motor vehicle, theft of movable property, possession of stolen property and computer criminal activity.  After processing and in accordance with the New Jersey Bail Reform, Anthony Pope was released on a summons pending court. 

The Manchester Township Police Department has been investigating a rash of car burglaries in the Crestwood Village section of the Township over the past two months.  Those investigations are still ongoing. We would request that anyone who has information regarding any of these burglaries to contact Manchester Township Police Department at 732-657-6111. Additionally, we would like to remind our residents to always lock their vehicles, even when only away from them for a short time.