Update: Hazlet Police Charge Port Monmouth Man, 30, with Multiple Counts of Burglary

Hazlet Police have charged a Port Monmouth man with multiple counts of thefts after arresting him near an area of several recent thefts from vehicles yesterday, according to Chief James Broderick.

Kevin J. Cunningham was questioned by patrol officers Richard Wilhelm and John Fitzsimmons on November 20, and assisted in arresting the suspect by Sgt. Michael Duncan and Lt. Robert Mulligan. According to Chief Broderick, officers had been looking for Cunningham after linking him to several recent vehicle burglaries that have occurred over the past week in the Lynn Boulevard area. A call was placed to the station at approximately noon on Thursday, alerting police to a suspicious person walking near the area where two unlocked cars had been broken into and reported the night before.

According to Chief Broderick, Cunningham was found with several items reported missing, and was arrested. Cunningham has been charged with numerous counts of Theft, Illegal Use and Possession of Stolen Credit Cards, Forgery, and Burglary. Cunningham was also wanted on warrants from Holmdel Police charging him with possession of heroin.

Police are still investigating and matching items with theft reports, but according to Chief Broderick, residents may not have realized they have been robbed recently. He states that many of the thefts came from unlocked vehicles.

“People leave change visible in the cup holders, and even checks and check books, and then leave the car unlocked, because Hazlet is a good town where you feel you can do that still,” Chief Broderick said. “A resident may leave a credit card clipped to their car’s visor, and not realize it’s been stolen until they go to use it to get gas. We highly advise locking your vehicle if you must leave important items in your car.”

The follow-up investigation is being handled by Detective Vincent Quinn. Credit is also being given to Senior Police Dispatcher Karen Ackerson, who was able to use the police computer system to assist officers in obtaining information linking Cunningham to the reported crimes.

Cunningham is being held pending bail of $105,000 in addition to bail of $10,000 on the outstanding charges from Holmdel. Additional charges for offenses committed in other municipalities are pending, according to Chief Broderick.

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.