Howell Police Announce Arrests in Burglary Cases

The reported on Tuesday that a suspect has been arrested and charged for his role in four commercial burglaries in town. 

Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd reported that Troy Ritchie, 43, who had come to police headquarters for an unrelated appointment was identified by Detectives Nancy Carroll and Matt Baranyay as the suspect captured on surveillance video of one of the burglaries. 

Dodd reported that on Sept. 3 the was burglarized at 1:30 p.m. Dodd said the store was closed for Labor Day and surveillance cameras caught a black male with dreadlocks in a ponytail entering the store. Ritchie is alleged to have taken a laptop, a desktop computer with components and cash from the scene. Dodd said entry to the store was made by breaking the glass of the front door. 

The next day Dodd said there were two more burglaries and one attempted burglary in the Friendship Mall. Dodd said the front door of was shattered but no entry was made due to a shatterproof glass. She estimated the damage to the door at $600. 

The Sherwin Williams store had its glass door shattered and a case, which Dodd said was similar to a jewelry box was stolen. The case contained a paint calibrator according to Dodd. 

The Kampo Gardens Chinese Restaurant also had its door shattered as part of the burglary. Dodd said the entire cash register was taken including cash on the inside. 

Along with the visual confirmation Dodd said there was physical evidence to link Ritchie to the burglaries. He was arrested and was being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $70 thousand bail with no 10 percent option.