Man Robbed 20 Convenience Stores In South Jersey: Police

A Camden man has been charged in connection with a string of burglaries throughout South Jersey, New Jersey State Police announced.

Tony Petrozzelli, 50, has been involved in 20 convenience store burglaries throughout Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, according to police.

On May 8, police say they caught him in the act before he could commit yet another. This one was at the Heritage store in Upper Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, according to police.

State troopers from the Woodstown Station found a car that was reportedly stolen in the parking lot. They discovered it was connected to a series of burglaries.

As they entered the lot, they said they found Petrozelli attempting to break into the store. When they approached him, he got into the stolen car and drove off, police said.

Police said they chased him onto Route 55, over the Walt Whitman Bridge and into Philadelphia before calling off the chase.

During the ensuing investigation, police said they linked Petrozelli to the string of burglaries. Petrozelli was charged with burglary, theft, eluding, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property, and multiple traffic offenses. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Detectives determined that Petrozelli was staying in the North Philadelphia area. On June 9, Petrozelli was arrested on Ruth Street in Philadelphia by detectives from the State Police Fugitive Unit along with members of the United States Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force Philadelphia Division.

He was lodged at the Philadelphia County Correctional Facility pending extradition to New Jersey.