Police Reveal Many More Charges For Berkeley Man Accused In Commercial Burglaries

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township police revealed more details of an extensive list of charges against an Ocean County man charged in a string of commercial burglaries.

Craig T. Orler, 48, of Berkeley Township, is facing more than 230 charges in connection with burglaries in Brick, Manchester, Howell and Marlboro, Brick police said Saturday.

On Friday Orler was ordered held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River during a detention hearing before Superior Court Judge Pamela Snyder. During that hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Isabella Young said Orler was facing more than 90 charges, many of them related to burglaries of storage units at Cube Smart off Route 70.

Brick police said the burglaries happened in December and January, and alleged Orler dressed all in black and cut through a fence at the Cube Smart facility, then used bolt cutters to gain access to storage units.

Property stolen from the storage units included the ATV and motorcycle mentioned during the detention hearing on Friday, Brick police said. Also stolen from the storage units were car parts, a car engine, and various personal items, Brick police said.

Brick detectives determined stolen property was being sold by a person of interest; during the detention hearing, Young said the ATV was seen posted for sale on Facebook.

Brick police said a search warrant was executed on at a home on Mallard Road in Berkeley Township with the assistance of Manchester and Berkeley Police, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force. During the search, officers recovered the stolen ATV, motorcycle, and other property, police said.

Craig T. Orler and Melissa Orler were arrested at the scene and charged with receiving stolen property, Brick police said, and additional search warrants executed confirmed Craig Orler as the primary suspect in the burglaries, they said.

He was arrested April 28 by the department's Street Crimes Unit and Brick detectives at his home, Brick police said.

In Manchester, Orler has been linked to commercial burglaries at Tri-State Vending, 141 Route 539, on Oct. 27, 2024, and at Te-Amo's Smoke Shop, 550 Route 530, on Nov. 13, 2024, Brick police said.

At Tri-State Vending, Orler is accused of smashing the glass front door and stealing about $4,000 in cash, multiple vending machine keys, and assorted merchandise, Brick police said.

Surveillance footage and a court-authorized search of Orler’s vehicle revealed stolen keys, burglary tools, and clothing matching that was worn during the incident, they said.

At Te-Amo’s Smoke Shop, a suspect is accused of forcing entry through a back door and stealing $5,634.83 worth of tobacco and vape products, along with an ATM containing about $2,440. Orler was charged with receiving stolen property in connection to this incident, Brick police said.

In Howell, Orler has been linked to burglaries at the following businesses, Brick police said:

• I-Storage on Route 9 on April 21;
• Gorilla Vapes on Route 9 on Dec. 8;
• The Guitar Shop on Route 9 on Nov. 18, and
• Chatzkel’s Closet on Route 9 on Dec. 2.

In Marlboro, Orler is the primary suspect in connection with burglaries of about 40 units at Marlboro Self Storage, 30 Tennent Road, Brick police said. The property stolen from these units included two motorcycles, mountain bikes, and various tools, police said.

The charges filed so far include burglary, receiving stolen property, theft, criminal mischief and fencing, Brick police said.

Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester thanked the following agencies for their collaboration in the investigation: Manchester Township Police, Berkeley Township Police, Marlboro Township Police, Howell Township Police, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office OCPO and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department.

During the detention hearing Friday, Young said Orler has a lengthy criminal history. While she did not detail past convictions during the detention hearing, court records show multiple guilty pleas in commercial burglaries dating back at least 20 years.

He was on supervised release following a federal sentence for illegal firearms dealings when he was arrested in Manchester in May 2020 in connection with a commercial burglary ring operating in Ocean County. That release was revoked in 2021, according to federal court records.
Young called Orler's actions "a blatant disregard for the law."

"He is a continuous and constant danger to the community," she said.

Snyder agreed, and rejected arguments from the public defender suggesting home monitoring in ordering Orler to remain in jail.

His next court appearance is set for June 30 before Superior Court Judge Dina Vicari.