Auto thefts net electronics MIDDLETOWN - The Middletown Township Police Department is investigating reports of thefts from at least 30 motor vehicles occurring in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, according to a press release from the department. Police were initially summoned to Cherry Tree Village at approximately 5:15 a.m. when a man who was sitting in his vehicle reportedly witnessed several people with a flashlight looking into cars. When they approached his vehicle the witness said he heard them ask, "Is it open?" and saw four individuals enter the car parked next to his. The witness chased the four suspects and was able to grab a backpack from one of them, the press release said. Officer Donald Coates responded and recovered the backpack, which contained numerous electronic devices, radios,GPS units and other items found in motor vehicles. Additional responding officers searched the area and discovered numerous cars in the Cherry Tree Village development had been burglarized, according to the release. At approximately 7:20 a.m., while officers were continuing to search the surrounding area, Officer John Werner was dispatched to the intersection of Grace and Orchard avenues where a witness reported seeing two males take a bicycle from the front porch of a home. Werner detained one of the suspects, Russell Varner, 22, whose last known address was in Union Beach. Varner was carrying a backpack that was allegedly laden with electronics, as well as parkway tokens and more than $35 in coins. Varner was also in possession of the stolen bicycle, according to police, who placed him under arrest. The other suspect fled and remains at large. Varner was charged with possession of stolen property in excess of $500 and bail was set at $7,500 with no ten percent option, according to the release. Additionally, police said he was wanted on warrants from surrounding municipalities totally $5,000. Other burglaries to motor vehicles were reported throughout the areas off Harmony Road, Cherry Tree Farm Road and Main Street in the Port Monmouth section, according to the release.