A Margate man already connected to several Downbeach car burglaries is now charged in two dozen similar incidents in Egg Harbor Township, police said.
Jason Pinto, 43, was arrested last week after township Officer Jacob Hunter stopped his car and found he had outstanding warrants against him. Pinto also allegedly had drug paraphernalia on him at the time of his arrest.
A lengthy investigation by Detective Richard Vogt linked Pinto to 24 vehicle burglaries in the township, police said.
Pinto was charged with 16 counts of burglary, 13 counts of attempted burglary, 14 counts of theft and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card that he allegedly took during one of the burglaries. He also has four pending counts each of burglary and theft.
Pinto in a photo released by Longport police after his arrest there in October.
Pinto targeted unlocked vehicles in residential neighborhoods, police said.
Last month, Longport Patrolman Frank Lupperger stopped Pinto's car and recognized him as the suspect seen in surveillance video from July burglaries in the town, according to a release at the time. His tattoos also matched those of the suspect, and he was wearing the same hat.
Pinto also had an outstanding warrant out of Hamilton Township on unrelated charges, and was taken into custody.
Further investigation and an interview confirmed Pinto was the suspect in multiple vehicle burglaries in both Margate and Longport, police said at the time.
Lupperger charged Pinto with six counts of burglary and six counts of theft regarding six different vehicles burglarized in Longport.
He was then turned over to Margate police regarding their vehicle burglaries.
Egg Harbor Township has had 168 reported thefts from vehicles that were left unlocked this year. Police are asking residents and visitors to remember to lock their unattended cars at all times.
Pinto in a photo released by Longport police after his arrest there in October.
Pinto targeted unlocked vehicles in residential neighborhoods, police said.
Last month, Longport Patrolman Frank Lupperger stopped Pinto's car and recognized him as the suspect seen in surveillance video from July burglaries in the town, according to a release at the time. His tattoos also matched those of the suspect, and he was wearing the same hat.
Pinto also had an outstanding warrant out of Hamilton Township on unrelated charges, and was taken into custody.
Further investigation and an interview confirmed Pinto was the suspect in multiple vehicle burglaries in both Margate and Longport, police said at the time.
Lupperger charged Pinto with six counts of burglary and six counts of theft regarding six different vehicles burglarized in Longport.
He was then turned over to Margate police regarding their vehicle burglaries.
Egg Harbor Township has had 168 reported thefts from vehicles that were left unlocked this year. Police are asking residents and visitors to remember to lock their unattended cars at all times.
