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Witnesses: Juvenile accused of breaking into 3 shops at Toms River strip mall

Cleanup was underway at a plaza on Hooper Avenue after windows were shattered at the Sweat440 gym, Dollar Tree and T-Mobile.

Jim Murdoch

Oct 1, 2024, 9:36 PM

Updated 80 days ago

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Someone went on an early morning crime spree and smashed the windows of several Toms River businesses Tuesday morning.
Cleanup was underway at a plaza on Hooper Avenue after windows were shattered at the Sweat440 gym, Dollar Tree and T-Mobile. Shop owners say it happened around 3 a.m.
“I saw big giant pelts and holes in our windows, glass shattered inside, a boulder all the way down at the end of our hallway and ultimately, just a ton of glass,” said Carolyn Kaminsky, manager of Sweat440, adding, “At the Dollar Store, the whole door was gone. They did say some things were stolen, but luckily, we didn’t have any here.”
According to surveillance video, the suspect picked up at least six landscaping rocks and hurled them through the glass windows.
“It boggled my mind how big and how hard you could tell it was thrown against the glass,” added Kaminsky.
A manager at Dollar Tree tells News 12 that the suspect was caught inside the store trying to steal dozens of gift cards, along with a bottle of mineral water and a bag of candy.
Witnesses say police arrested a juvenile male suspect inside the Dollar Tree.
“I’m a mom of two myself, so I just can’t imagine not knowing where my kid is at 3 a.m.,” said Kaminsky.
News 12 has reached out to Toms River police for more information and is waiting to hear back.