Two Toms River Women Charged With Removing Items From Sandy-Damaged House In Bayville

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."