BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Berkeley Township Police Department released its latest blotter, detailing arrests and incidents from January 1 to February 28, 2025, including DWIs, shoplifting, fraud, and a structure fire.
- Motor Vehicle Accident (Jan. 4): A driver mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake, crashing into her garage and damaging a gas meter, causing a major leak. No injuries were reported, but the home was deemed uninhabitable.
- DWIs (Jan. 4, Jan. 27, Feb. 16): Three individuals were arrested for driving while intoxicated, including a man found slumped over the wheel and another involved in a crash after failing to stop at a stop sign.
- Shoplifting (Jan. 5, Jan. 17): Two men were arrested for separate incidents at ShopRite, one stealing $552 worth of goods and another taking $682 across four incidents.
- Structure Fire (Feb. 9): A vacant home on Santo Domingo Drive was destroyed in a fire. Investigators determined the home was under renovation, and the Ocean County Fire Marshal is continuing the investigation.
- Criminal Trespass & CDS Possession (Feb. 14): A man was arrested after unlawfully entering a home while intoxicated. He was later found with controlled substances and taken into custody.
- Aggravated Assault (Feb. 15): A man threw rocks at a bus driver after being removed for failing to pay his fare. He was charged with assault and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Fraud (Feb. 28): A resident was scammed out of $50,000 after clicking a fraudulent email link disguised as a message from a friend. The victim’s bank is handling the investigation.
Several suspects were released pending court dates, while others were remanded to Ocean County Jail.