Charge Five in Theft of 100+ Metal Studs

DIAMOND BEACH —Lower Township Police Department received a report of a theft that took place April 24 at 1:35 a.m. in Diamond Beach. As a result, five young adults were arrested and charged with theft.
The caller stated that a silver-colored sport utility vehicle was seen taking metal studs from the Grand Hotel construction project site, then left headed toward Wildwood Crest.
Wildwood Crest Police Department was notified and they stopped the vehicle in question with some of the allegedly stolen metal.
Lower Township police and detectives responded to Wildwood Crest and met with the those officers who had stopped the vehicle. Through further investigation it was discovered that items were also taken from the Seapointe Community Condos construction site.
With cooperation of North Wildwood Police Department Lower Township police recovered more metal studs in the 400 block of West First Avenue in North Wildwood.
Theft charges were filed against:
• Melinda Zdun,19, of the 200 block East Maple Avenue, Wildwood.
• John Pike, 19, of the 2100 block Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood.
• Lisa Brennan, 20, of the 300 block of East Poplar Avenue, Wildwood.
• Jason Delong, 20, of the first block of Evergreen Avenue, Villas.
• Joseph Chelhowski, 18, of the 400 block of West 19th Avenue, North Wildwood.
All were processed and released on a summons with a court date.
According to a release, residents are asked to be observant if they see suspicious activity and report it to police so that the validity of people in and around their neighbor’s homes can be verified in an effort to curtail these thefts as we are having a lot of metal thefts.
Citizens with information may contact Lower Township Police Safe Neighborhood’s Tip Line at 609-886-1619 extension 156 or the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 866-465-2800.
Information will remain confidential and may be reported anonymously.
Lower Township Police, Detectives, Wildwood Crest Police, and North Wildwood Police completed investigation.