Holmdel Detective Bureau Report from Neighborhood Watch Meeting

The following are minutes from the Neighborhood Watch meeting of April 9, 2012.

Detective Bureau Report – Detective Eric Hernando

Det. Hernando reported the following:

• Since the last Neighborhood Watch Meeting on February 13, the Department received:  3,961 calls for service, made 154 arrests, and began 45 investigations.
• An 18-year old Middletown female was arrested in connection with the recent motor vehicle burglaries on the north side of town.  Even though a subject was arrested, Det. Hernando urged all to lock their vehicles, as there are many groups around committing this type of burglary, and ALL have targeted only unlocked vehicles.
• A male subject was arrested at the Palmer Avenue Exxon after taking money from the cash register.  He was subdued by employees at the station until officers arrived to place him in custody.
• On March 29th a home on Holland Road was burglarized.  Subjects smashed a rear door and stole jewelry, cash and laptops from the master bedroom.
• Police responded to a call of a fight at the Holmdel Motor Inn.  A female subject, who had assaulted a male subject, was arrested.  She later also assaulted the Officers and First Aid Volunteers who were called to the scene.
• Robert Suliga, the subject who was stealing sports equipment from area high schools, has been sentenced to 120 days in jail and five years probation. 
• Hernando spoke about recent incidents where copper was stolen from the cell tower located at 960 Holmdel Road, and also steel plates were taken from The Commons Shopping Center.  He urged all to be attentive and report ANY suspicious activity to the Police Department.
• An 18 year old male at Holmdel High School was arrested for stealing calculators from the school.
• With the warmer weather beginning, the Department generally receives more complaints about problems with home improvement contactors.  All contractors must be licensed by the State of NJ.  You are urged to check any contractor you may employ by visiting the State of New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.  You can search by name or license number to assure that the contractor is approved by the State. 
• Another problem at this time of year is the arrival of “gypsies” in the area.  They generally offer to complete a job for you (sealcoat your driveway, repair walks, etc.) with supplies they have “left over from another job” which they can give to you at a low cost.  The products they use are inferior and normally wash away once it rains.