New Jersey State Police Nab Gun and Scrap Metal Thieves Using Social Media
Sunday, August 24, 2014
press release August 22, 2014
Pilesgrove Township, N.J. – On August 15, the New Jersey State Police reached out to the public on Facebook and Twitter, asking for assistance with identifying suspects caught on camera committing a theft. Within hours the tips and comments came pouring in. Several days later, three people were arrested and charged and two separate cases were solved.
Troopers from Woodstown Station arrested Joshua Figarola, 24, and Theodore Figarola, 52, both of Williamstown, N.J., and Robert Mayers, 27, of Mullica Hill, N.J., after receiving a flood of tips from social media users who saw the images of the suspects stealing scrap metal.
On August 7, Tpr. Michael Legatie began an investigation of a theft of scrap metal from a residence located on Whig Lane in Pilesgrove Township. A deer camera set up on the property by the victim captured multiple images of suspects committing the crime.
State Police posted two of the captured images to the NJSP Facebook and Twitter accounts requesting the public’s assistance with identifying the suspects. As a result of the posting, anonymous tips came pouring in as the images were seen by over 100,000 people.
Tpr. Legatie and members of Glassboro Police Department were able to identify the suspects based on multiple tips. Troopers arrested Joshua and Theodore Figarola on August 18 and Robert Mayers on August 20.
As the investigation progressed, Tpr. Legatie and Buena Station Detective George Auge developed information that both Joshua and Theodore Figarola were responsible for the burglary of a Monroe Township residence that occurred on May 5. As a result, both Joshua and Theodore Figarola were charged with stealing a handgun and jewelry from that home.
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Joshua FigarolaBurglaryTheft Unlawful possession of a weapon Certain persons not to possess weapon Possession of hollow point ammunition Lodged at Salem County Jail in lieu of $75,000 full cash bail |
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Theodore FigarolaBurglaryTheft Unlawful possession of a weapon Possession of hollow point ammunition Lodged at Salem County Jail in lieu of $25,000 full cash bail |
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Robert MayersTheftLodged at Salem County Jail in lieu of $15,000 full cash bail |
The Facebook post has since been taken down. The pictures used in the post are attached to this release
Charges are merely accusations and the suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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