Bail reform nightmare at the Jersey Shore as man with 8 crimes since January set free from jail over and over again

Shore News Network

EGG HARBOR, NJ – Between January 24 and February 7, 2022, The Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township Police Departments responded to multiple reports of burglaries and stolen motor vehicles.

On January 24, 2022, police responded to English Creek Auto Plaza in Egg Harbor Township for a report of a stolen motor vehicle. The business owner advised that a black male was observed on surveillance video entering the business and removed multiple vehicle keys from an unlocked cabinet. The video showed the suspect take a 2016 Chrysler sedan, which was later found abandoned in Egg Harbor Township.

On January 25, 2022, police again responded to English Creek Auto Plaza in Egg Harbor Township for a report of another stolen car. Surveillance video showed the same suspect enter the business and take another vehicle. A 2015 Hyundai Sonata was taken. The vehicle was later located in Egg Harbor Township, unoccupied, with front end damage and deployed airbags.

On January 28, 2022 at 2:44 AM, police responded to Fulton Bank 4004 English Creek Avenue, Egg Harbor Township for an activated burglar alarm. Upon police arrival, it was evident that a burglary had taken place. Entry had been made through a window that was removed from the north side of the business. No suspects were located in the business, and no access was gained to the bank’s vault. Power was cut from the building, rendering the video surveillance system inoperable.


On February 4, 2022, police responded to Chick-Fil-A located 6038 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township for an activated burglar alarm. The front door was found to be open, but no suspects were located inside. Later, during normal business hours, management reviewed the surveillance video which showed a black male force entry into the business, but fled when the alarm sounded.

On February 5, 2022, police responded to English Creek Auto Plaza in Egg Harbor Township for a report of another stolen vehicle. Sometime overnight, a 2015 Nissan Ultima was taken from the business. In the early morning house, before the vehicle was discovered as stolen, Patrick Grenald, 22, of Egg Harbor Township was stopped while operating the vehicle by the Township of Hamilton Police Department. The vehicle was towed for being unregistered and uninsured.

Later that same morning, while reviewing video surveillance and reporting the motor vehicle theft, Management of the English Creek Auto Plaza learned that the same male, later identified as Patrick Grenald, re-entered the business and stole another vehicle, a 2015 Chevy Malibu.

On February 5, 2022, the Township of Hamilton Police Department responded to Bucktail Outfitters located on Harding Highway in Mays Landing for a report of an attempted commercial Burglary.

On February 6, 2022, Egg Harbor Township police responded to English Creek Auto Plaza for a report of a black male on-location actively stealing a vehicle. Police located the vehicle and conducted a motor vehicle stop. The driver and sole occupant, Patrick Grenald, was arrested and charged with Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Eluding. He was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

On February 7, 2022, Grenald was released from the Atlantic County Jail only to be re-arrested for committing several commercial burglaries at locations near the jail in Hamilton Township. He was re-arrested and once again lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Multiple ongoing investigations have linked Patrick Grenald to all of the above crimes. Charges for those crimes are forthcoming. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Egg Harbor Township Criminal Investigations Bureau at 609-926-4051 or the Township of Hamilton Police Department at 609-625-2700.

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