A Wall Township man, Justin Longstreet, has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of car burglaries in Manasquan, following a long-running investigation by local police. The arrest was acknowledged during a recent Borough Council meeting, where officials praised the department’s persistence.
Council Public Safety liaison Gregg Olivera highlighted the community reminder: “Lock your vehicles and keep the key fob out of the car.” Longstreet is currently charged with four vehicle burglaries committed in 2025 and is suspected in at least eleven more dating as far back as 2021.
The arrest took place on May 13, 2025, at Longstreet’s residence in Wall Township. The investigation was led by Manasquan Police Detective Mark McGowan and Detective Sergeant Johne Ringo, with critical support from the Wall Township Police Department.
Captain Nick Norcia of the Manasquan PD explained that Longstreet had a consistent “crime of opportunity” MO—targeting unlocked vehicles and stealing untraceable items. “These aren’t smash-and-grabs,” Norcia said. “He relies on carelessness.”
Advancements in investigative protocols and digital forensics contributed to the delay in connecting the dots. However, during the arrest, fingerprints were matched to a 2021 burglary, definitively linking Longstreet to an earlier unsolved case.
Longstreet is being held pending additional charges, and investigators are reviewing unsolved cases from 2021, 2023, and 2025 that may also be connected. Authorities do not believe the case involves a broader theft ring, but the pattern of repeat offenses has raised community concerns.
“This arrest marks a significant step in addressing an ongoing threat to our community,” said a department spokesperson. “We are continuing to pursue all leads.”
The Manasquan Police Department urges anyone with information about similar incidents to come forward as the case remains active and expanding.
