Toms River house burglary tied to suspect in the same neighborhood

The Toms River home owners were gone for only an hour at dinnertunem but it was enough time for their house to be looted. Within a day, a neighbor from practically around the corner is charged with the theft.

Kevin Laird, 42, of Raleigh Drive, awaits court hearings connected to the January 23 break-in on nearby Greenwich Court, charged with burglary and criminal mischief, according to township police.

Investigators estimated the time of the incident to be about 5:30 PM. A basement window was broken to gain entry. Officer Vincent Pedalino spotted traces of blood.

Inside, a bottle of vodka and a laptop disappeared, and someone had drained the last of a bottle of hydrocodone cough syrup, police said.

Detectives Mark Bajada and Pat Jacques developed information that led them to Laird the following day.

Asked about fresh facial cuts, Laird allegedly told them that a pipe-wielding thug attacked him in his house, but that he didn't want police to be involved.

Then, they found the laptop and the vodka bottle, police said. Laird was released to await a hearing.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.