Police said the suspect left blood at the scene of one of the burglaries
TOMS RIVER -- A Toms River man has been charged with breaking into five township businesses after investigators found blood at a restaurant that had been burglarized last week.
Lawrence DeLuise Lawrence DeLuise, 47, was arrested hours after a break-in at the Shut Up and Eat restaurant on Main Street on Oct. 7, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.
Officers responding to the 12:20 a.m. break-in found a shattered window panel and a cash register that had been pulled open, Stocco said.
Blood was found on the alarm panel, which had been ripped off the wall, and on a white apron found on the floor near the broken window, Stocco said.
Members of the detective bureau's burglary task force arrested DeLuise a few hours later, he said.
Stocco said forensic and video evidence also linked DeLuise to break-ins at All Star Bagel on Oct. 5, Schiano's Pizza on Oct. 5 and Sept. 18, the AT&T store on Sept. 28 and the Blue Fountain Restaurant on Sept. 15.
He was charged with five counts of burglary, three counts of theft and one count each of trespassing and criminal mischief.
DeLuise is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact Detective Roger Hull at 732-349-0150 ext. 1291.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.