POCKETBOOK THIEVES ARRESTED

DATE/TIME: 1/25/2008
LOCATION: Eighth Ave, Asbury Park
OFFICERS INVOLVED: Detective Paul Flammia, Detective Patrick Martin, Sgt. Kevin Faller, Sgt. Charles Weinkofsky, Officer William Crosta, Officer Dimitrios Kelesidis and Detective Gregory Tongring.
ACCUSED: JoAnne Ventresco, Age 49 of Toms River
Peter E. Bolzau, Age 49 of Brick
Gloria Alamo, Age 44 of Toms River

NARRATIVE
     Information developed by Detectives Patrick Martin and Paul Flammia lead to the arrest of the persons involved in three pocketbook thefts that took place in Wegman’s parking lot in Ocean Township. The arrests were made on 1/25/2008 at approximately 8:42 pm, after detectives had learned that the subjects were staying in an apartment located on Eighth Ave in Asbury Park. The vehicle involved in the thefts had been previously identified as a 2000 Red Dodge Caravan.
     On 1/25/08 Detective Paul Flammia observed the Dodge Caravan parked in front of the apartment building on Eighth Ave in Asbury Park. He along with Martin, Sgt. Kevin Faller, Sgt. Charles Weinkofsky, Officer William Crosta and Officer Dimitrios Kelesidis arrested Jo Anne Ventrseco, Peter E. Bolzau and Gloria Alamo as they exited the apartment building and entered the Dodge Caravan. Police located a pocketbook and wallet inside the Caravan that belonged to a victim from a previous theft that occurred in Manchester. The trio was arrested without incident and transported to OTPD for further processing.
     Further investigation revealed that Ventresco and Bolzau committed the thefts in the Wegman’s lot on 9/20/07, 1/14/08 and 1/17/08. Bolzau would drive the Caravan as Ventresco would reach out the passenger side window and steal the pocketbooks from the shopping carts of unsuspecting victims. The two netted cash and credit cards from these thefts. The investigation also revealed that Vetresco, Bolzau and Alamo committed similar thefts in Wall Township and Manchester. Credit cards of the victims were also fraudulently used by the trio at various locations in Neptune, Neptune City and Wall Township.
     Ventresco was charged with three counts of Theft and Possession of Stolen Property. She was later taken to Monmouth County Jail on $20,000.00 bail. Bolzau was charged with three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Theft and had an active warrant for his arrest from Monmouth County Superior Court and Asbury Park Municipal Court. He too was taken to Monmouth County Jail on $50,000.00 bail. Alamo was charged with Possessing a Hypodermic Syringe which was in her possession at the time of her arrest along with having active warrants out of Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department, Neptune Township Municipal Court and Ocean Township Municipal Court. She was also taken to Monmouth County Jail on $30,000.00 bail. The Dodge Caravan was seized under state criminal forfeiture guidelines. Charges are pending against the trio from Wall Township and Manchester.