Man Charged In String Of Burglaries On Same Block In Lacey

LACEY, NJ — The man responsible for breaking into three houses in two days on the same block in Forked River, stealing more than $2,000 worth of items and causing more than $1,500 in damage has been identified, Lacey police said Monday.

John Cottrell, 46, of Jackson was charged with three counts of burglary, two counts of theft, one count of criminal attempt - theft and three counts of criminal mischief, police said.

Cottrell was being held in Ocean County Jail on unrelated charges when he was served the criminal complaint, police said.

In February, Cottrell broke into the three homes on Roanoke Drive through various means and removed or attempted to remove personal property, police said. Read more: Multiple Burglaries On Same Block Under Investigation In Lacey: Police

Cottrell was identified by the department's detective bureau as a suspect, police said. Police executed court-authorized search warrants on Cottrell's car and home, where they found property belonging to the victims along with additional evidence.

At the end of February, Cottrell was charged in a similar string of break-ins in Point Pleasant, police there said. Read more: Man Arrested In Early Morning Home Burglaries In Point Pleasant

He also was charged in 2022 in connection with the theft of boat lift parts and a trailer from a marine construction company in Brick, according to Brick police. Read more: Man Charged In $47K Trailer, Aluminum Theft From Brick Marina