STAFFORD – After being found in a stolen vehicle, two men are now in the Ocean County Jail for a string of car burglaries from a local auto dealership.
Stafford Township Police arrested 21-year-old Eli Angel Perez and 30-year-old Kevin C. Downes, both from Toms River, for stealing multiple cars from the Lester Glenn Hyundai in Toms River.
Police first made the connection after receiving an alert that a red 2021 Hyundai Tucson bearing stolen New Jersey plates, was traveling east on Route 72 Wednesday morning. Officers located the car in an Exxon parking lot occupied by two men. Once the vehicle was confirmed stolen, the two were placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.
Authorities discovered that Perez and Downes had also stolen a white 2020 Hyundai Tucson, an additional New Jersey registration, and committed several motor vehicle burglaries from the Toms River Lester Glenn Hyundai. Police recovered the stolen motor vehicles and property and were returned to their owners.
Perez and Downes were charged with two counts of Receiving a Stolen Vehicle and two counts of Receiving Stolen Property, and subsequently lodged at the Ocean County Jail, pending a future court appearance.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
