Pair Charged In Multiple Thefts From Toms River Auto Dealership

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two men are facing multiple auto theft charges after they were found in a car stolen from a Toms River auto dealership, authorities said Thursday.

Eli Angel Perez, 21, and Kevin C. Downes, 30, both of Toms River, were arrested early Wednesday in Stafford Township, police said.

Stafford police were alerted to a red 2021 Hyundai Tucson driving east on Route 72, and found it in the Exxon parking lot with Perez and Downes sitting inside, police said. Authorities confirmed the SUV had been stolen from Lester Glenn Hyundai in Toms River, police said.

An investigation by Stafford and Toms River police found the two men also had stolen a white 2020 Hyundai Tucson, an additional New Jersey registration and had committed several motor vehicle burglaries from the Lester Glenn dealership, police said.

The stolen cars and property were recovered and returned to their owners, police said.

Perez and Downes are being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending detention hearings.

Perez is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, three counts of auto theft and two counts of burglary, according to jail records. Downes is charged with two counts of knowingly receiving stolen property, four counts of auto theft and two counts of burglary, according to jail records.