Resident arrested for three Laurelton Heights burglaries Suspect(s) targeting senior communities still at large BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer A jogger's memory led to a resident's arrest last week in connection with three burglaries in the Laurelton Heights section of Brick Township, police said. "One witness was jogging who noticed the vehicle in two different locations," said Police Capt. Douglas Kinney. "The jogger memorized the license plate." Anthony Santana, 23, of Brick, was arrested and charged with three counts of burglary and theft Sept. 29, three days after the first burglary on Taylor Boulevard, police said. Santana's live-in girlfriend, Sara Marie Stephens, 22, of Brick, was also arrested Sept. 29, as the couple made their way back to their Kentwood apartment in her Honda Civic, the same car believed to have been used in the burglaries, police said. Stephens was charged with receiving stolen property and two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance - cocaine and heroin, police said. Two homes, the Taylor Boulevard house and a Kaiser Boulevard home, were burglarized Sept. 26, Kinney said. As police were canvassing the neighborhood, a witness gave police a description of a "suspicious vehicle in the area," Kinney said. When Santana allegedly burglarized a Besante Boulevard home Sept. 28, the jogger noticed the blue Civic and memorized the plate after seeing it in two different locations, police said. Police believe a fourth home may have been burglarized that has not yet been reported. After identifying the car's owner, police began a surveillance operation on the couple that police said led to a pawn shop in Point Pleasant. The name of the pawn shop was withheld by police. "They pawned some jewelry," Kinney said. "Detectives went in there after they left. They identified items they pawned as proceeds from the burglaries." Police would not release how much in property or cash was stolen from the residents' homes except to say jewelry was taken from all three houses. "We recovered 60 percent of the jewelry taken but we were unable to recover any cash," Kinney said. Detectives continued following Santana and Stephens after the pair left the pawn shop, Kinney said. They traveled to a Lakewood residence, where Kinney said they purchased drugs. They returned to their apartment complex, where they were arrested, Kinney said. Santana's bail was set at $10,000; Stephen's bail was set at $1,000. Both were transported to the Ocean County jail, Kinney said. "This is a perfect example of the community assisting the police department and taking note of things suspicious or out of the norm in their neighborhood and notifying police," Kinney said. Police are still looking for one or more suspects who have been targeting homes in Brick's senior communities, although the police are not commenting on the case. "It's an ongoing investigation," Kinney said. "Any areas that have been targeted we have met with them [the residents] and discussed it. To give out any additional information would hamper our investigation." Police issued a letter to Greenbriar II residents stating that Brick is not the only town where these burglaries have occurred and not every senior community in Brick has been targeted. The letter issued was the second advisory of its kind. There have been four more cases of burglary and theft in retirement communities since the last advisory, according the letter. The last advisory letter was issued during the summer. Township Council President Anthony Matthews said at the Sept. 26 council meeting that there has been a "rash of burglaries in the senior community" and announced some tips, which police included in their letter, to residents: Keep lights on inside and outside the house when you go out for the evening or on vacation. Light timers will help give the appearance that someone is home. Try not to leave newspapers, mail or other items on the property that give the impression that you are away. Ask a family member or neighbor to collect these items. Occasionally look out of your windows into your back and side yards. Vary the times and locations you do this. Make an effort to look out for your neighbor's house when they are not home. "It's important we attack this as a community," Matthews said. "I'm not going to comment on anything that the council said," Kinney said. Police ask that residents report any suspicious activity to the police department at (732) 262-1100. They remind residents to not approach or challenge anyone suspicious. Observe suspicious activity from the security of your home, then call police immediately.