Man charged in dozens of burglaries in eight towns

A Pleasantville man who was already in Atlantic County jail on outstanding warrants was charged with allegedly stealing more than $10,000 from dozens of businesses in eight communities, according to the township Police Department.

Capt. Ted Kammer said multiple burglary, theft and criminal misconduct charges were filed against Maurice Forrest, 47, on Monday after a two-month investigation done by detectives from ship, Absecon, Ventnor, Somers Point, Galloway Township, Northfield, Pleasantville and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Kammer said the different law enforcement agencies worked together to solve a series of "smash and grab" burglaries that hit about 35 businesses in the surrounding area. Front windows would be broken at night and the cash registers stolen. The robbed businesses include dry cleaners, delis and pizza parlors, Kammer said. While the detectives are still calculating the loss, the amount of money stolen is expected to be more than $10,000.

Forrest was arrested Jan. 4 on a prior contempt-of-court charge from Absecon, and he remains in the Atlantic County jail. Egg Harbor Township Judge Robert Switzer set bail at $100,000.