Alleged Burglary Ring Foiled by West Deptford Police

Thanks to a few carefully placed surveillance cameras and "good old-fashioned police work," said Chief Craig Mangano, the West Deptford detective bureau locked up a trio of alleged burglars wanted in connection with a week's worth of criminal incidents in the township.

Randy T. Chaput, 26, of WestDeptford; John W. Fryberger, 32, of Logan Township; and Thomas M. Brown, 26, of Swedesboro, were all implicated in a spree of thefts and burglaries that occurred between March 16 and 21. 

Most of the incidents were related to the taking of materials that were later sold to scrapyards for cash.

Here's a timeline of the activities:

On March 16, West Deptford police received a report of a theft from a trailer belonging to a company installing gasoline pumps at the Wawa on Crown Point Road. The lock to the trailer, which was parked in the Wawa lot, had been cut.

Stolen from the trailer were various contractor tools and several pieces of steel, copper and other metals valued at $5,000. The items were later found to have been sold for cash to Camden Iron & Metal and Matteo Iron & Metal of Thorofare.

In that incident, Fryberger, Chaput and Brown were all charged with burglary, criminal mischief, theft of movable property and conspiracy to commit burglary

On March 18, a resident on Lecato Ave. reported that a metal chiminea valued at $100 had been stolen from the rear yard of her home. Police say that Chaput, Fryberger and Brown sold it to Matteo Iron & Metal for cash; all three were charged with theft of movable property in the incident.

On March 20, police received a report that 10 copper welding leads valued at $3,500 were stolen from a generator in the parking lot of Owens & Minor of Paulsboro. Fryberger and Brown were charged with theft of movable property, criminal mischief, and conspiracy to commit theft.

Also on March 20, police investigated a burglary to a home on West Fourth Ave. The suspects allegedly gained access through a rear door of the home by manipulating the lock. Stolen from within the residence were several video games and assorted jewelry.

Chaput was charged with burglary, theft of movable property, and conspiracy to commit theft; Brown and Fryberger were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.

Finally, on March 21, Owens & Minor again reported that five copper welding leads valued at $1,750 were stolen from the same generator in its Forest Industrial Park location. Fryberger and Brown were charged with theft of movable property as well as criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit theft. 

Chaput was lodged in Gloucester County Jail in default of $75,000 full-cash bail. Brown was also placed in Gloucester County Jail in default of $7,500 full-cash bail. Fryberger was charged on summonses and released into the custody of the Logan Twp. Police Department, as he is wanted for questioning regarding some thefts there as well.