Belmar Man Charged with Theft, Criminal Mischief

A man from Belmar has been charged with theft of movable property, criminal mischief, and false imprisonment, after he allegedly confined his girlfriend in her residence, cut her telephone lines, stole her debit card, and subsequently withdrew $700 from her account.

According to Sergeant Jack Ambrose of the East Hanover Police Department, authorities responded to a call from the alleged victim’s home on Troy Road at approximately 2:18 a.m. on Tuesday. The women notified police that her boyfriend, 49-year-old Belmar resident Stephen Buck, had held her against her will and cut her telephone lines before taking her bank card and fleeing the scene.

Buck allegedly used the victim’s car to travel to the bank, where he withdrew $700 from her account. Buck is then said to have given the woman’s car keys to a patron at a Dunkin Donuts located on Eaglerock Avenue hours later. He was ultimately taken into custody in Roseland with the assistance of the Morris County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Unit.

Buck will reportedly be transferred to the county jail after receiving treatment for a foot injury. His bail has been set at $22,500 without a 10% option. Of the crimes for which he is accused, Buck has been charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3, the statute that governs these offenses, criminal mischief is a fourth-degree crime if the actor causes pecuniary loss in excess of $500.00 but less than $2,000.00.

In this case, the charges likely arose in connection with the telephone lines that Buck allegedly cut during the incident. If he is convicted of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, he may be sentenced to serve up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison.

For additional information related to this case, access the following article: Man held girlfriend against her will, cut her phone line, steals her bank card