Two Toms River Women Charged With Removing Items From Sandy-Damaged House In Bayville
Police find one woman with recyclable items, copper from home on Balsam Drive
Police have charged a Toms River woman with burglary and theft after they found her inside a Balsam Drive home taking items from the flood-damaged residence, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith.
Patrolmen William Somers and Don Rowley, along with Detective Will Cullen, responded to the home at 1:30 p.m. today, after receiving a call from a neighbor that people were in the uninhabitable house removing items, Smith said.
They charged Donna Yurko, 49, Lacombe Terrace, with burglary and theft. The other woman, Nicole Harmsen, 27, Hazelwood Drive, was charged with receiving stolen property and criminal trespass, he said.
The women were removing "anything they thought might have some value," from the home that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Smith said.
Up until two weeks ago, the street off Bayview Avenue was one of the areas guarded by police checkpoints. Only those with proof of residence could access the areas. The checkpoints have since ended.
But Smith said police are still patrolling flood-damaged sections of the township.
"The chief of police and the mayor and Township Council are taking an aggressive stance towards enforcement of any type of these incidents," he said. "We have extra patrols."
needs some space
5:47 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Throw the book at them.
Ditzzeechick
6:32 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
lock em up and throw the key away! How do people assume in ANY disaster that it's ok to LOOT?
Nj Ghost
6:33 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Idiots......If they have no record they may get 30 days suspended and a nice fine or community service cleaning up after Sandy.
Nj Ghost
6:56 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Google Donna Yurko....Interesting acts by a person with the same name about 2 years ago in Pennsylvania along with several others. Wonder if there is a relationship.
I have spoken
10:27 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
http://www.timesleader.com/stories/Five-charged-in-thefts-from-houses,117921
It looks like the same POS.....Lock her up and throw away the key.
Nanseas
7:15 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Glad they were caught!
dorothy meelheim
8:07 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Way to go dirt-bags, I have a friend who has a destroyed home on Balsam Drive in Bayville, It's sickening to know that there are such low life people who just can't wait to be parasites and scavangers that take advantage of good people who have already suffered great loss and heartache. I am also glad you were caught and hope they show no mercy on you.
TammySmith
8:57 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Looters are Public Enemy # 1 in Ocean County and I hope people remember their names as the victims of Sandy have suffered ENOUGH to have to go through this bs..there is NO excuse for this and I'm sure they will try to have them but hopefully the justice system will work this time. These people, typically have been given break after break in life and have not had to account for all of their wrong doings and this is why they continue to screw up. I hope BOTH are used as an example as neither can claim innocence or that they didn't know what they were doing was wrong or any other lame excuse. Seriously people, remember their names and don't let them get away with this...even if the justice system fails the victims, we shouldn't!
missy
9:02 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
no tfor nothing but I know one of the girls..and yes poor judgement however she was in her car and had no idea what donna was doing...anyone who knows nicole knows she WOULD NEVER!...was she stupid um yea! but no not what theyre making it seem to be..she was sitting in her car..DONNA did it NOT NICOLE...and no not a getaway car either...al nicole knew was that donna got out to get something from the street...nicole has no priors..why cause shes done nohting illegal EVER nor would
suz
9:55 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Sorry...not sure if I believe that Nicole is innocent. She lives in Bayville also, right? How could she not know? She must be really, really stupid if she did not know what was going on...you break the law, you pay the price.
Keeping whats mine
5:51 pm on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Makes no difference. Guilty by association. Know who you are hanging with. Just park in front of this bank im getting something outta the street. Really?
Louis
9:26 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
I'm sure she had a gut feeling that wasn't a good Idea , she should of left
ed crowley
11:22 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
What was their bail? When I see these cases fast tracked and stiff penalties issued then I will believe the prosecutor. W e were told that this would happen .Has anyone been sentenced for looting?
TammySmith
10:43 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Well it surely seems that the rules are different in Ocean County based on your gender/nationality. The arrest below was reported in the APP with bail info where are these two pathetic slobs mentioned above get a tiny blurb in TR Patch. Amazing...but then again not...
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012312240035
butch cassidy
6:06 pm on Saturday, December 29, 2012
wow they wasted no time to have that checkpoint just lifted and in they went i cant stand people anymore
Andrea
11:37 pm on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Bad decision made by both women! The comments are true....! Although both girls are good decent people..... they did an indecent thing. Who amoung us hasnt done a stupid thing and thanked God that it didnt make the papers. I just hope we all learn from this..... and I bet Nicole is a lot wiser today... because of this.
suz
9:10 am on Sunday, December 30, 2012
Well, I may agree with you about "we all do stupid things", but sorry...I would never, ever put myself in this kind of situation. There is a difference between being stupid and just not having any morals, no?
Cheryl
12:58 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I saw no mention at all about the 2 Toms River Policemen who got caught stealing????
Patricia Perillo
3:23 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Missed that article about the TR policemen caught stealing. Who are they ? Were they PROTECTING the houses in the northern beach area of the barrier island? My 5 ft long whale, bolted all around to the front of my house in Normandy Beach vanished during last week. Parked in front of my house on 1/1/2013, I saw contractors shopping for items on our street and throwing these items in their vehicles. Maybe contractors means of transportation should be searched when they leave the island. We get robbed by Congress,robbed by our protectors and robbed by those who are doing the repairs. Bend over, Congress is going to do it again to us !!
1stcav
9:29 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
And you won't, the Chief is the spokes person for HIS Dept, and what happens in TRPD , stay's in TRPD if at ALL possible, right Chief ! What, what, can't here you THE Silence IS deafening...
BellaRox
8:00 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
LOOTERS SHOULD BE SHOT, THE THIEVES SHOULD BE SHOT. OR PERHAPS, BURIED IN THE SAND UP TO THEIR HEADS FOR HIGH TIDE TO BE THE JURY. KARMA IS A B*TCH!
STEVEN DOMINICK
9:35 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
DON'T COME ON CEDAR DRIVE, GLEN COVE AREA, EVERYONE LOOKS OUT HERE, NO PICKER'S NO SCRAPERS' ALLOWED...