Police Make Two Arrests in Connection With Stolen Vehicles

On Nov. 11, 2011, at approximately 11:00 p.m., received a report that a vehicle had just been stolen from a resident of the Leisure Village West development. An investigation by Ptl. Christian Nazario revealed that the two suspects had climbed over the Route 37 entrance gate to Leisure Village West to gain access to the gated community. The vehicle was a 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, police said. It was determined by Ptl. Nazario that the suspects in this case were associated with the victim.

At approximately 12:43 a.m. on Nov. 12, Sgt. James Komsa and Ptl. Chris Cerullo spotted the stolen vehicle traveling on Beckerville Road near Horicon Drive.  A felony stop was conducted and the driver, 38 year-old Philip Cottone, and the passenger, 31 year-old Anne Donahue, both of Horicon Drive in Manchester, were taken into custody without incident. Donahue was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had an outstanding traffic warrant for her arrest in the amount of $300 out of Manchester Township, police reported.

Cottone was charged with one count of receiving stolen property and one count of criminal trespass.  Donahue was charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of criminal trespass. Bail for both subjects was set at $7,500 each. They were both lodged at Ocean County Jail, police said.

Earlier in the evening at approximately 5:40 p.m., Ptl. Chris Walaszek had recovered another stolen vehicle, which was parked unoccupied on the side of Beckerville Road. That vehicle was a 1997 Plymouth Breeze which had been reported stolen out of Lakehurst, police noted. Manchester Police are attempting to determine if the two incidents are related. Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Manchester Police at 732-657-6111.