Police: Keurig coffee maker bandit arrested, charged with robbery

     Surveillance images of Marcus F. Velazquez, 29, of Puffin Glade in Bayville, who has been arrested and charged with robbery. (Images courtesy of the Toms River Police Department)

    Surveillance images of Marcus F. Velazquez, 29, of Puffin Glade in Bayville, who has been arrested and charged with robbery. (Images courtesy of the Toms River Police Department)

    A Bayville man has been arrested and charged in connection with a robbery Thursday morning in Toms River, police announced today in a release. 

    Marcus F. Velazquez, 29, of Puffin Glade was arrested just hours after police said he stole a Keurig coffee maker from the Sears store in the Ocean County Mall and subsequently struck a loss prevention officer with his car as he fled the scene. 

    The security officer suffered a minor injury, police said. 

    Police received a tip after asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect, which was reported by various media organizations, including Newsworks and Jersey Shore Hurricane News. 

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    With the assistance of Berkeley Township police officers, the tip led authorities to Velazquez’s residence, where the “suspected vehicle” was located, police said. A further investigation led to his arrest.

    Velazquez, who was charged by Det. Thomas Grosse with one count of robbery, is being held on $50,000 bail at the Ocean County Jail.

    The Keurig coffee maker, which retails for $189, had already been sold at a local business for $50 prior to Velazquez’s arrest, police said. 

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