Area Man and Girlfriend Arrested in Connection with Car Burglaries

Police have arrested an East Barnegat Avenue man and his girlfriend and charged them with a number of recent area car burglaries, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

Jesse E. Walker, 24, and Melissa Filligim, no age available, both of 373 East Barnegat Avenue, were arrested on Oct. 2, after a North Arlington Avenue resident called police to tell them his car alarm had gone off at 5:30 a.m. and a person was running away from his vehicle, Smith said.

Walker was charged with eight burglaries and seven thefts. He is lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $25,000.  Fillingam was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of stolen property and hindering apprehension. set her bail at $5,000, with a ten percent option. She posted bail and was released.

A short time after the resident called police, Patrolmen Michael Ptaszenski and Robert Flanagan encountered Walker, who was wearing a camouflage jacket, black pants and was "sweating and breathing heavy," according to the police report.

When Ptaszenski patted Walker down, he found a large amount of change, jewelry and a necklace in his jacket pocket, Smith said.

When interviewed by Detective Joseph Santoro, Walker said he had entered three other cars that morning and several others on Sept. 16, behind the , Smith said.

Smith said Walker also told police he would drive to neighborhoods in Bayville and Pine Beach in the early morning hours, park his car and walk from house to house looking for unlocked vehicles.

Fillingim acted as a lookout during the Sept. 16 thefts by walking ahead of him and texting him, Walker told police. Fillingim was arrested in Ocean Gate by Berkeley Township police, Smith said.

Fillingim also told police she had sold items in the past for Walker that she suspected were stolen. Police recovered 15 receipts from pawn shops and gold-buying establishments, Smith said.

More charges are expected to follow, he said.

Berkeley police recently warned township residents to lock their car doors, after a rash of in a number of areas throughout the township.

"We can't assume they are responsible for all the thefts," Smith said.