String Of Criminal Mischief Incidents Reported In Lacey

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - Lacey police are investigating a series of criminal mischief incidents, all of which involved green spray-painted graffiti, Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said.

All of the incidents were reported on July 30.

Officer Noah Schaffer responded to the dock area of 900 Beach Boulevard, by the Lacey Elks, in Forked River at 1:02 p.m on a report of criminal mischief to a boat. The owner showed Schaffer his 23-foot Sportscraft boat docked in the northeast corner of the marina. The right side of the boat was spray-painted in green letters. The damage to the boat is estimated at $300. Also spray-painted was a 20-foot trailer with the same green paint. The damage trailer was estimated at $200, DiBella said.

The incident may have occurred sometime between 6 p.m. on July 29 and 1 p.m. on July 30, the chief said.

Officer Elton Copes responded to the second incident 5:41 p.m. on July 30, 2018, at a vacant house in the 700 block of Montauk Drive in Forked River. The house was spray-painted on the front door and siding with profanities. The paint appears to be the same green spray-paint used in other vandalism. The damage to the home was estimated at $100, DiBella said.

Copes also responded to a third incident at 5:20 p.m.on July 30 at Cape May Drive in Forked River on a report of a mailbox that was also spray-painted with graffiti. The damage was estimated at $50. A nearby stop sign was sprayed-painted with what appeared to be the same green paint. A total of three traffic signs were defaced, the chief said.

Photo: Lacey Township Police Department