SUSPECT IN 100+ BURGLARIES ARRESTED

ORTHODOX JEWS PRIMARY VICTIMS

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/2/07
BY MARGARET F. BONAFIDE TOMS RIVER BUREAU

LAKEWOOD — Police arrested a suspect in more than 100 burglaries Wednesday, saying he preyed largely on people in the Orthodox Jewish community by committing the crimes during their Sabbath.

Police arrested James K. Mastrangelo, 43, of Carasaljo Drive. The arrest took place after a search warrant was served at Mastrangelo's home.

The burglaries occurred over the past month, said Police Chief Robert C. Lawson.

Mastrangelo remained in the Ocean County Jail Thursday, held in lieu of $75,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

The number of burglary and theft counts continues to grow as police begin sorting through belongings recovered from a search of Mastrangelo's home Wednesday night, Lawson said.

The items stolen "were valued in the tens of thousands of dollars" and included jewelry, watches, cash and other items, Lawson said. Some of the valuables were retrieved from various pawn shops.

"We were able to account for at least 17 residential burglaries, several commercial burglaries, and about 100 car burglaries," the chief said. The burglaries had been occurring on Friday evenings and many were not reported until later on the weekends, after the Sabbath had passed, Lawson said.

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