A four month investigation into the multiple residential burglaries within the Green Briar Woodlands Retirement Community resulted in the arrests of James Donegan, age 37, and Amiko Donegan, age 35, of Ebb Tide Drive in Brick. The couple was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft and two counts of criminal mischief. Bail was set at $150,000 each by the Toms River Municipal Court and both are currently incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail.
The investigation began in late November of 2015 through February of 2016 after multiple residential burglaries were reported within the retirement community. In each case, entry was forced into unoccupied homes during the daytime where jewelry, cash, and other valuable items were stolen.
As leads began to be developed, a co-operative effort between the neighboring townships of Brick, Berkeley, Ocean Gate, and Lacey Township was initiated. The detective bureaus from these agencies were instrumental in the identification and apprehension of these suspects. As a result of a search warrant executed by the Berkeley Township Police Department into their Brick home evidence relating to the burglaries was seized including their vehicle which was used in the commission of the crimes. This investigation is continuing and more charges are expected as evidence is being identified.
Donegan was arrested back in November of 2016 in Brick for attacking a Brick Township Police officer and his patrol car with a baseball bat.