On December 24th, 2017 at approximately 1:53 am, Gloucester Township Police responded to Laurel Hill Plaza, in the Clementon section of Gloucester Township, for a report of a subject on the roof of the complex of commercial businesses. An employee of one of the businesses was on location after hours and heard what appeared to be someone walking around on the roof.
Officers arrived on location and observed a subject wearing all dark clothing, gloves and a ski mask on the roof. The subject refused to comply with instructions and ran to the opposite side of the rooftop. Officers from the Pine Hill Police Department, Lindenwold Police Department, Berlin Borough Police Department and Pine Valley Police Departments assisted with setting up a perimeter around the complex. The subject attempted to escape from the roof top and jumped to the ground. He was apprehended by officers at that time. He was also found to be in possession of a crowbar, hammer, 2 screw drivers, wire cutters, gloves and a ski mask.
The male subject was identified as Dennis Niceler. Mr. Niceler broke his ankle while jumping from the roof and was transported to Cooper Hospital for his injury where he was admitted for treatment.
Officers accessed the roof with the assistance of Blackwood and Erial Fire Departments and verified that no additional suspects were hiding there. No damage was observed to any of the access points and it is believed that officers arrived on location before Mr. Niceler could access any businesses due to the quick actions of the employee who called 911.
The investigation is ongoing for this incident and as to whether Mr. Niceler may be involved in any other similar incidents in the south Jersey area. He was charged on a criminal summons with trespassing, resisting by flight and possession of burglar tools and was released pending his court date.
The arrest was the result of our partnerships with local businesses and following the message of, if you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, say something by calling 911.With the assistance of our multi-agency partnerships, we were able to successfully take the suspect into custody before he could be a Christmas Grinch and steal from a business owner.
If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please contact the Gloucester Township Police Anonymous Crime Tipline at 856-842-5560 or send an anonymous tip via text message by texting the keywords TIP GLOTWPPD and your message to 888777.
