Galloway Township’s mayor chased down a suspect in the burglary of his restaurant, police said Thursday.
It was a jacket embroidered with the word “Loser” that apparently led to his downfall.
George Dean Jr. was shown wearing the jacket in surveillance footage from Fred and Ethel’s that captured a burglary Tuesday.
Mayor Anthony Coppola Jr. owns the restaurant.
Dean allegedly returned to Fred and Ethel’s on Wednesday night, when staff alerted the mayor that the suspect was trying to get in the back door.
Coppola chased after Dean, while also calling 911 and telling the dispatcher where he was, police said.
The mayor chased the suspect right into police custody down the road, where he was still wearing the same “Loser” jacket, according to the report.
Dean, 31, of Port Republic, allegedly stole master keys to various businesses in the township’s Smithville section.
He was found with keys to Coppola’s restaurant and also has been linked to the burglary at Spirit Gas Station the previous weekend, police said.
“The Galloway police are very grateful to Mayor Coppola and his swift reaction to notify 911 and his tenacity to chase a criminal down in the middle of the night,” police said. “His brave actions have no doubt saved the police and other local business from a pre-holiday crime spree. We do not expect citizens to put their lives in danger. Thankfully this was a good ending for all involved.”
