Suspect arrested on the scene
HAMMONTON—A would-be burglar who had allegedly broken into a retail establishment on Route 206 was caught in the act by police at 5:49 a.m. on December 31, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.
Friel said police responded to a burglary alarm on the prime block of Route 206, Friel said.
“Upon arriving and investigating the alarm, patrol observed the rear gate of the property open, as it appeared the chain securing the gates had been removed,” Friel said.
Officer Dalton Verderame located a subject hiding inside a portable storage unit on the property, Friel said.
The subject was identified as Enrico Montanino, 53, of Williamstown, Friel said.
“Mr. Montanino was found to be in possession of two cut locks, one belonging to the fence and one belonging to a cable lock that secured a rotary tiller, which was found in the adjacent field along with a mini bike. Both items were stored to be sold by the company,” Friel said.
Along with the items, a pair of bolt cutters was found with the rotary tiller and the mini bike, which were believed to be used to cut the locks, Friel said.
Patrol also obtained stills from surveillance video of Montanino removing the mini bike from the fenced area, Friel said.
Montanino was placed under arrest and charged with the following criminal charges: burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of burglar’s tools and defiant trespass, Friel said.
He was processed and released pending court appearance in Atlantic County Superior Court, Friel said.
Verderame was the arresting and charging officer, Friel said.