Manalapan police announce arrest in home burglary

Manalapan police announce

arrest in home burglary

MANALAPAN — The Manalapan Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with the Oct. 19 burglary of a home on Belaire Lane.

Belaire Lane is off of Taylors Mills Road.

In the incident, police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the residence at 9:44 a.m. Upon arrival, the officers ascertained that the female juvenile heard a knock at the front door which she did not answer.

After a short delay the girl heard the suspect enter the home by force through the rear sliding door. The girl locked herself in an upstairs bathroom and called 911.

Prior to calling 911 the girl spoke to her mother and the mother contacted a male neighbor.

The neighbor came to the home and went to the front door, at which point the suspect fled to a car that was parked nearby. The neighbor gave chase and was able to obtain the license plate of the vehicle used by the suspect, according to police.

In an Oct. 23 press release, Manalapan police said Thomas R. Roselli, 44, of Matawan, was taken into custody without incident shortly after 3 p.m. Oct. 22 by detectives Michael Ratta and Kevin Schmidt, and Patrolman Charles Alaimo.

Police said Roselli was arrested at a business in Old Bridge and charged with burglary, criminal mischief and criminal attempted theft. He was initially lodged in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in default of $15,000 bail.

The Matawan Police Department provided assistance with the investigation.

Manalapan police credited the successful apprehension of the suspect in large part to what was described as “excellent information provided by the resident victim and by her neighbor who had the wherewithal to obtain both a good description of the suspect’s vehicle and more importantly the suspect’s vehicle license plate.”