Residents Targeted In Frauds, Manalapan Police Say

MANALAPAN, NJ — Residents were victims of a variety of frauds, according to the weekly report from police. Frauds ranged from a hack of a Ticketmaster account to someone who paid for a pet dog that was not received.

Here are the fraud incidents under investigation, according to police:

• Jan. 30: A Manalapan resident, 24, told police an unknown person gained access to their Ticketmaster account and unlawfully removed tickets valued at $1,692. Patrolman Ryan Brady handled the report.
• Jan. 24: A Manalapan resident, 66, reported that an unknown person defrauded them by taking $1,650 in payment for purchasing a dog, which was then never delivered. Patrolman Marshall Bitsko handled the report.
• Jan. 29: A Manalapan resident, 65, reported being defrauded of $4,972.46 by unknown people purporting to be employees of a utility company. Patrolman James Joiner handled the report.
• Jan. 26: A Manalapan resident, 55, told police that people purporting to be law enforcement officers contacted them via telephone and obtained personal information. Patrolman Matthew Schwartz handled the report.
• Jan. 26: A Manalapan resident, 68, reported that an unknown person gained access to their bank account and unlawfully withdrew $3,812.36. Patrolman Matthew Schwartz handled the report.
• Jan. 25: A Manalapan resident, 56, reported that an unknown person unlawfully altered a bank check in the amount of $16,700. Patrol Officer JeanMarie Kaminski handled the report.
• Jan. 24: A Manalapan resident, 59, reported never receiving funds from a court settlement. Patrolman Sean McCarthy handled the report.

Other crimes reported in the township include the following:

• Jan. 26: A Manalapan resident, 66, reported that an unknown person unsuccessfully attempted to gain entry to an Overlook Way residence. Patrolman Connor Kelly handled the report, which is pending further investigation.
• Jan. 30: A Freehold resident, 43, reported that an unknown person stole diesel fuel from a vehicle while it was parked at a Route 33 business. Patrolman Christopher Schou handled the report.
• Jan. 25: A Manalapan resident, 43, reported that an unknown person stole the contents of a package, valued at $723.98, that was delivered to an Oak Knoll Drive residence. Patrolman Aaron Abeles handled the report.

There were also two arrests for shoplifting: One was an incident at Target, Route 9, on Jan. 25 in which a Newark woman was located in Freehold Township and arrested for shoplifting items worth $799.63. Patrol Officer Jean Marie Kaminski was the arresting officer. The other was at Wegmans, Route 9, on Jan. 24, when an unknown male is believed to have shoplifted $480.96 in various items. Kaminski also handled that incident.