BARNEGAT, N.J. — A Barnegat Township man faces charges of theft after authorities say he illegally obtained more than $50,000 in New Jersey Lottery tickets from vending machines at convenience stores over nearly three years.
Kenneth Franke, 57, was charged on December 4, 2024, with theft by unlawful taking following a joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Barnegat Township Police Department, and the New Jersey Lottery Commission, officials announced.
Investigators allege Franke removed lottery tickets from vending machines at two Wawa stores in Barnegat and another in Lacey Township without payment between January 2022 and December 2024. Detectives conducting surveillance on December 4 reportedly observed Franke obtaining multiple tickets without proper payment at a Barnegat Wawa.
Franke was arrested without incident, transported to the Barnegat Township Police Headquarters, and charged via summons. He is set to appear in Ocean County Superior Court at a later date.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer praised the collaboration of local and state agencies in uncovering and halting the theft scheme, which spanned multiple locations.