Toms River Man Passed Bad Check To Buy Vehicle At Dealership: Police

HAZLET, NJ — A Toms River man is accused of passing bad checks in the purchase of a vehicle from a Hazlet car dealership and then failing to return the vehicle to the dealership, police said Thursday.

Robert Poelstra, 74, was arrested Wednesday, Hazlet Police Chief Robert Mulligan said. He is charged with passing bad checks and theft by deception, both third-degree charges, Mulligan said.

Police did not say when the incident happened, except that it was "recent," and did not release the make and model of the vehicle that was taken or its estimated value. They did not say how long Poelstra had been driving the vehicle.

Hazlet Detective Russell Surdi tracked down Poelstra and arrested him as Poelstra left an unnamed medical center in Ocean County, Mulligan said. Poelstra was arrested without incident, he said.

"The stolen vehicle has been recovered and will be returned to the dealership," Mulligan said. "We would like to thank the public for their support and cooperation during this investigation."

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Surdi at 732-264-6565, ext. 2112.