Tipsters Lead Police to Bank Robbery Suspect in Toms River

Police have arrested a Berkley Township man in connection with a bank robbery that took place at a TD Bank on Mule Road in Toms River Monday.

Angelo Grenci, 39, of Liberta Drive was arrested after police conducted an investigation based on numerous tips from people who saw the surveillance images that were posted to social media and reported by NJ 101.5 and other publications.

"Within hours of posting surveillance images on social media and with online news outlets the tips started pouring in," Toms River Police said in a press release Tuesday. "In all, 145,000 people viewed the Toms River Police Department Facebook page, prompting a flood of valuable information."

Shortly after police started exploring the tips that were received, a positive identification was made and a warrant was issued for Grenci.

"An overnight manhunt ensued which culminated in his capture at the Friendly’s restaurant 981 Route 37 West," police said in the press release.

One of the tipsters who responded after seeing Grenci's surveillance picture told police that the suspect would be at the Friendly's at 9 a.m. Tuesday. When Officers Brett Hansen, Ryan Parente and Michael Gallipolli arrived, they spotted Grenci sitting in one of the booths alone and eventually learned that he was also armed with "a large knife." He also attempted to give the officers a fake name, but was eventually "taken into custody without incident."

“We would like to thank the media and the followers of our police Facebook page for having the willingness to getting involved," Chief Mitchell A. Little said in a press release. “These partnerships are yielding results greater than we could have imagined just a few short years ago.”

Grenci is being held on $110,000 bail on charges connected to the bank robbery. Police said he is also facing additional charges for trying to use a false identity and for possession of a weapon.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.