TOMS RIVER — A South Jersey man has been charged in connection with the theft of a $10,000 gold necklace from a jewelry store inside the Ocean County Mall, police confirmed to Jersey Shore Online.
Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to Kay Jewelers at approximately 7:05 p.m. on April 10 following reports of what was initially described as a “smash and grab” incident. Several local scanner news pages on Facebook reported the incident shortly after it happened.
Store employees told officers that a man asked to view a 14-karat gold necklace and, after it was handed to him, placed it around his neck and ran out of the store.
Officials confirmed to Jersey Shore Online that nothing was “smashed” – just grabbed.
The suspect was last seen fleeing on foot through the Macy’s parking lot, according to authorities. At the time, he was said to be wearing tan glasses and a Fedora style hat.
Following an investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Jeremy Ruga, 38, of Dorothy, New Jersey in Atlantic County.
He was formally charged on April 15 with third-degree theft.
Ruga was being held at the Monmouth County Jail on unrelated charges and was recently transferred to the Ocean County Jail where he remains today.
Detective Ryan Quinn of the Toms River Police Department is leading the investigation.
