Crime & Safety

Robbery Attempt Thwarted at CEI

A security guard was hurt in the mayhem. Holmdel Police collared a suspect on Route 35.

A security guard was assaulted in a struggle with a man suspected from stealing from Cosmetic Essence Incorporated Warehouse (CEI) on Route 35. The man escaped on foot and was later arrested by Holmdel Police. 

Fausto Acosta Reyes, 56, of the Bronx, N.Y tried to steal merchandise from the warehouse where he worked, police say. He was charged with robbery, assault, and theft

According to the police report, CEI security detected Acosta Reyes was attempting to steal $200 worth of goods from the warehouse just after midnight today, Jan. 17.  In the struggle to detain him, CEI Security officer Patrick Kelly was pushed in the face and got hurt, resulting in three chipped teeth. 

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Acosta Reyes took off through the parking lot with security officers in pursuit. He ran towards The Holmdel Motor Inn where he tried to scale a fence, but failed. He tried to flag down other employees for a ride, and at one point he attempted to jump into the rear of a moving pickup truck. He succeeded in getting into a black Mitsubishi Galant driven by another person.

Along the way he dropped the stolen property, which was recovered by another employee of CEI.

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But he did not get far. K-9 Officer Joseph Van Pelt of the Holmdel Police stopped the Mitsubishi on Centerville Road by Hwy 35. Assisted by Officer Gerard Burke and Office John Maguire, Acosta Reyes was taken into custody.

The remainder of the stolen merchandise was later recovered in a wooded area behind the Holmdel Motor Inn by Officer Van Pelt’s K-9 partner Diogi.

Holmdel First Aid assisted Kelly on the scene.

The suspect was treated at Bayshore Hospital for lacerations on his hands and arms from the fence and the woods he was running through. Acosta Reyes was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in default of $52,500 bail. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.