A suspected serial burglar accused of hitting home and businesses along the Jersey Shore will stay behind bars for now after police said they tracked him down at a casino.
Vito Anderson, 40, appeared virtually for a court hearing after authorities say he broke into Carluccio’s Coal Fired Pizza in Northfield, New Jersey, on March 12.
The pizza shop’s owner, Carlo Citera, said that the door was smashed and $1,300 in cash was stolen.
“I was angry, definitely,” Citera told NBC10. “It just hurts a little bit, after all day working.”
According to police and court records, Anderson also broke into a shop in Brigantine and a house in Pleasantville within the past few weeks.
He is also accused of breaking into a home on Long Beach Island two years ago, officials said.
“We had agencies from Atlantic County, Ocean County and Cape May County,” Brigantine Police Department Sgt. Jim Powderley said. “We basically, essentially formed an official team and worked together to help locate the suspect and ultimately take him into custody.”
The same day as the Carluccio’s break-in, court records say police arrested Anderson at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City where authorities had spotted him gambling.
Prosecutors say Anderson currently faces 73 pending charges. Many are related to burglaries and drugs. Anderson has 16 prior convictions and has served time in prison.
“Despite all prior contacts with the criminal justice system, he continues to commit burglary and steal from members of the community, which is of great concern,” assistant prosecutor Scott Bowers explained.
Anderson’s address is listed as a homeless shelter in Atlantic City.
At the detention hearing, his lawyer argued that Anderson should be released from jail citing his long history with mental illness.
The judge decided that Anderson will only remain behind bars until he is placed in a high level of mental health treatment.
Police say that if you believe you were a victim of Vito Anderson, please contact your local police department.
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