Lacey Police Arrest Lanoka Harbor Man For A Slew Of Burglaries

Michael L. Dautorio has been a busy man.

Lacey police have charged him with a string of residential burglaries in the Bay Way section of Lanoka Harbor, Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said.

Police responded to reports of multiple burglaries on Feb. 5 in the 700 block of Sinclair Avenue, including the 400, 300 and 700 blocks of Sinclair Avenue, the 400 block of Barrammore Avenue and Chestnut Drive, the chief said.

Detectives processed each scene and reviewed numerous video surveillance systems to identify a suspect. They conducted surveillance at Dautorio's Drew Avenue home on Feb. 9.

During the surveillance, Michael Dautorio, 30, entered a vehicle and was followed from his residence to a Toms River neighborhood. Lacey detectives spotted Dautorio was observed running from a home wearing latex gloves and a ski mask.

He was captured by Lacey Detectives Keith Pearce, Brian Flynn, and Kymberly Gudgeon, prior to reentering the same vehicle. Dautorio was found with a shoulder bag containing various tools, flashlights, and gloves. Police also recovered cash from him.

Detectives confirmed with a local homeowner that Dautorio had entered her home and stolen cash. Toms River police officers responded and arrested Dautorio. He was charged with burglary and theft and taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, where he is being held on a no-bail warrant, DiBella said.

Lacey detectives obtained search warrants for Dautorio’s Lanoka Harbor home, along with his two vehicles. They recovered property linking Dautorio to several of the Lanoka Harbor burglaries during the search warrant execution, the chief said.

They also recovered more property believed to be connected with other burglaries in Toms River and Lakewood. Criminal charges are being prepared for six additional burglaries. At the time of these incidents, Dautorio was already out on bail for charges stemming from residential burglaries in Berkeley Township, DiBella said.

The Toms River and Berkeley Township Police Detective Bureaus, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit assisted.

Image: Patch file photo