Holmdel Police Blotter: Mailbox Bashing, Scrap Metal Theft

June 26: Mailboxes on Bryce Road, Winthrop Drive and South Park Court were reportedly struck with an object like a baseball bat sometime between midnight and 1 a.m.(See map for street locations.) The mailboxes were left damaged or shattered into pieces. The streets are all located off Crawfords Corner Road in the southern end of the township. The value of the mailboxes range from $100 to $125 each. Police are investigating the offenses as criminal mischief. 

June 26: Security cameras at captured a robbery suspect allegedly leaving the store with a Bobby Flay Cast Iron Griddle under his shirt, valued at $79.99. A witness supplied a license plate number of the man's vehicle, which belonged to someone else. Through records, surveillance photos and interviews, police have identified the suspect as Eric Morales, 28, whose last known address was Lake Como. They have issued a summons for his arrest, and plan to pursue shoplifting charges. 

July 2: Scrap metal was reported stolen from a concrete bin on the side of Z & G Auto and Tire located at the at 2055 Route 35 and Palmer Ave in Holmdel. The value of the missing auto parts is $300. Fresh tire marks were noted on the grass. The Palmer Ave. Exxon has been in the police blotter twice before in the past year. On April 22, 2011, three Middletown men attempted a robbery of $16,500 worth of cash and goods there, but were caught when their tire blew out and they crashed by Palmer Square. On March 28, one of the three men tried to steal $350 directly out of the cash register at the same Exxon but was wrestled to the ground by employees.