PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE:
COURT HOUSE — Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor reported today the resolution of one of the largest stolen property schemes in Cape May County history. Beginning in November 2008, during the investigation of a sexual contact complaint, County Detectives assisted in the arrest of Thomas Moran, 48 years old of Furlong Drive in Dennis Township. Hundreds of items of stolen property were subsequently discovered at his residence during the execution of court authorized search warrants.
Teams of detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and Sea Isle City P.D. methodically searched the Furlong Drive residence and several storage sheds for weeks locating and inventorying new and unopened merchandise randomly stacked in piles throughout the property. In addition, thousands of dollars in cash was seized in small denominations filed in envelopes with store receipts secreted throughout the house.
What was uncovered through months of investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime and Major Crime Units was a bizarre story of retail theft carried out by Thomas Moran throughout the region over the past ten years. Moran used a variety of techniques to successfully obtain expensive merchandise that ranged from expensive vacuum cleaners and computers to portable hand tools and cameras. The methods varied from simple shoplifting to more sophisticated schemes including the use of rebates and return of stolen merchandise for cash or store credit. In addition, extensive evidence was seized that indicated Moran created numerous false identities to further his theft schemes, but it did not appear to lead to any loss to individuals.
The total inventory of seized and subsequently forfeited property totaled $268,193.91 including the following items:
(58) Computers
(71) Dyson vacuums
(17) Drill kits
(27) DeWalt combination tool kits
(10) Miscellaneous vacuums
(17) Power nailers
(26) LaserJet printers
(42) Roomba automatic vacuums
(10) Cameras
Hundreds of computer thumb drives
(8) Televisions
(4) Power washers
(92) Computer hard drives
(41) Power supplies
(7) Computer scanners
(6) Cookware sets
(12) Barbeque grills
(11) Radar detectors
(5) Portable heaters
(19) Power saws
(23) GPS systems
(17) Calculators
(13) Cordless telephones
(52) Ceiling fans
(11) Tents
(6) Laminators
(4) Shredders
(14) Laser levels
(10) Tape recorders
(23) bi-fold doors
(22) Kitchen cabinets
(22) MP3 players
(30) Ironing boards
(8) Home security systems
(154) light fixtures
Additionally, a total of $187,200 in cash was seized and forfeited by Court Order to the County Prosecutor’s Office as a result of a civil forfeiture action filed against Moran. A civil forfeiture action was also filed against Moran’s Residence in Dennis Township that was basically used as a warehouse to store the stolen items. A Court Order of forfeiture was obtained of Moran’s residence, which will ultimately be sold by the County. The property is assessed at approximately $236,500.
$196,300 in store gift cards and credit are being returned to a number of retail stores including Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target to name only a few.
Moran pled guilty to Receiving Stolen Property, N.J.S. 2C:20-7, a crime of the second degree. As part of a plea agreement, Moran was sentenced to 6 years in the New Jersey State Prison.
Prosecutor Taylor commended the exhaustive hours and painstaking efforts of the members of his office to prepare and prosecute a case of this magnitude. Also, the cooperative efforts of all of the law enforcement community involved in assisting in the investigation as well as the support offered by the corporate security sections of many of the retailers particularly Target and Home Depot.
