Brick Man Charged In Smash-And-Grab Burglaries

BRIELLE, NJ — A Brick Township man has been charged in a pair of smash-and-grab burglaries, two of what police say were multiple similar burglaries that happened last week.

Todd M. Lansing, 46, was arrested March 28 by Brielle police following an investigation into the burglaries, Brielle police said Saturday.

Brielle police were called to a Route 70 business at 5:27 a.m. on March 23 for a smash-and-grab burglary. They were called at 3:48 a.m. on March 24 when a burglar alarm activated at a business on Higgins Avenue, where they found another smash-and-grab burglary, police said.

Brielle detectives learned similar incidents had happened in several towns and an ad hoc task force was quickly formed, police said.

Using automated license plate reader data Brielle police were able to determine a vehicle that was suspected of being involved, and shared that information with other towns in the task force, and authorities identified Lansing as the suspect, police said.

About 7:20 p.m. on March 28, following what police said was five days of intensive investigation and surveillance, the task force pulled over the vehicle and arrested Lansing, and seized the vehicle and its contents pending the execution of search warrants, Brielle police said.

Lansing has been charged with two counts each of third-degree burglary, third-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools, which is a disorderly persons offense, police said.

He is being held at the Monmouth County jail, police said.

Brielle police said police in Point Pleasant, Brick, Wall, Neptune City, Keyport, Monmouth Beach and Middletown collaborated in the investigation.

"Their cooperation, professionalism, and dedication allowed us to collectively solve and prevent countless burglary cases," Brielle Police Chief Gary Olsen said. "When we work together like this, it sends a loud and clear message to our hardworking business owners that we take these cases very seriously and we care."

"More importantly, it gives them a sense of security and some level of closure," Olsen said.