MANCHESTER – Three men were charged in a multi-state burglary ring where they allegedly stole items totaling more than six figures.
These commercial burglaries happened throughout Ocean County, resulting in the theft of vehicles, trailers, outdoor power equipment, cartons of cigarettes, CBD products, and cash with a combined estimated value of approximately $100,000 in just three months.
Craig Orler, 43, of Manchester was the one local suspect. He had fled from officers trying to pull him over. He went into the Heritage Minerals tract and officers later found his 2014 Dodge Ram partially submerged in a small body of water on the property. A tip from the public led to his arrest later in Manchester, police said.
James Bendyna, 49, of Philadelphia was arrested without incident in Philadelphia. Row Bowman, 52, of Philadelphia has not yet been apprehended.
Orler faces multiple charges for money laundering, being the leader of an organized retail theft enterprise, burglary, theft, criminal mischief, eluding police, resisting arrest, and possession of a control dangerous substance. Bendyna and Bowman both face multiple charges for burglary, theft, and criminal mischief.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
This is the culmination of a three-month investigation by Manchester, Toms River, and Berkeley Township Police Departments. The lead investigators were Det. Adam Guker of the Manchester Township Police Department, and Det. Mark Bajada of the Toms River Police Department.
They identified Orler, Bendyna and Bowman as suspects and began surveillance of Orler. They found three addresses, two storage units and two vehicles used to store the stolen merchandise between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. During the surveillance, detectives also witnessed Orler purchase numerous all-terrain vehicles worth tens of thousands of dollars with proceeds derived from this criminal enterprise.
On May 20, seven search warrants were issued in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Investigators found stolen property and more evidence.
The Manchester, Toms River, and Berkeley Township Police Departments thanked the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, the United States Marshals Service, the Robbinsville Township Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Maryland State Police, for their collective and cooperative assistance in this investigation. Additionally, they thanked “the many individuals who provided tips to the involved agencies as to Orler’s whereabouts. With the arrest of these suspects, business owners throughout Ocean County can rest a little easier knowing this criminal enterprise is out of commission.”
Anyone with information regarding a commercial burglary in Manchester within the last few months is urged to call Detective Adam Guker at 732-657-2009, ext. 4210. As a reminder, anonymous tips can be submitted online at manchesterpolicenj.com. Tips may also be submitted through private Facebook message.
