Busted at big daddy’s: trio caught red-handed in seafood spot burglary attempt

GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. — Three suspects were arrested early Wednesday after officers interrupted a burglary in progress at Big Daddy’s Seafood, where the group was caught attempting to steal a commercial ice cream machine, according to police.

Key Points

Three suspects arrested during burglary attempt at Big Daddy’s Seafood in Gloucester City.
Officers interrupted the theft of a commercial ice cream maker around 4:25 a.m.
Keith Blackwell allegedly committed prior burglaries at the same location.

At approximately 4:25 a.m., Patrolmen Dominick Stellaccio and Darren Darcangelo of Platoon “B” observed suspicious activity at the eatery. Believing a break-in was underway, additional units responded with a coordinated approach led by Sgt. Mike Prus.

On the scene, officers found three individuals actively trying to remove the appliance from the premises. The suspects were identified as Keith Blackwell, 65, of Gloucester City; Brian Hoskins, 42, of Woodbury; and Nicole Figueroa, 41, of Camden.

A follow-up investigation by the department’s Detective Bureau revealed that Blackwell had allegedly targeted the business on several prior occasions, removing items and causing property damage. “Further investigation by our Detective Bureau revealed that Mr. Blackwell committed Burglary, Criminal Mischief and Theft by removing items from the business on numerous dates,” the department stated.

All three suspects were charged with multiple offenses and processed on complaint warrants before being remanded to jail.

Blackwell faces charges including burglary, theft, criminal mischief, conspiracy, criminal attempt, and possession of burglary tools. Hoskins was charged with criminal attempt, conspiracy, and possession of burglary tools. Figueroa was charged with conspiracy and hindering apprehension.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.