Burglar's Body Found in Restaurant Vent After Botched Break-In: Police

The body of a burglar has been found in a New Jersey restaurant vent following a botched break-in, police have revealed.

The Galloway Township Police Department said its officers were alerted to a report of a deceased male at Two Brothers From Italy on Monday morning.

When they arrived, police found the man had tried to gain entry to the restaurant via an exhaust fan on the roof.

But, at some point during the burglary attempt, the man became stuck and died after being unable to free himself.

A statement shared on the force's Facebook page early on Tuesday read: "Investigation revealed that the unidentified white male attempted to gain entry into the restaurant via a rooftop exhaust fan.

"During the burglary attempt, the male became trapped within the exhaust fan and was unable to free himself."

The post continued: "Identification of the deceased male is pending investigation by both the Galloway Twp. Police Department, as well as the Southern Regional Medical Examiner's Office."

It added the police were assisted by the Pomona Fire Department, Galloway Township Ambulance Squad, Atlantic City Fire department and the Southern Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

The man's identity had not been made public as of Tuesday morning.

Newsweek has contacted the Galloway Township Police Department for comment.

In December last year, a burglar in Florida died after a window slammed down on him while he was attempting to break into a home.

Lee County Sheriff's Office police said Jonathan Hernandez, 32, tried to gain entry to the home by climbing through a window.

Lt. Russel Park said in a Facebook video, uploaded following the burglary: "While Hernandez was trying to work his way through the window, it unexpectedly closed on top of him, pinning him and keeping him suspended in air."

His body was later found by deputies when they arrived on the scene.

Hernandez's fiancée Patricia Duarte at the time said that she doubted the version of events that were presented by authorities.

"Soon as I got there I'm like, there's no way. This isn't what happened," she said.
"I need a proper investigation," Duarte said. "I need the actual truth to come to light."

Park also described Hernandez as a convicted felon and that he was "no stranger" to law enforcement.

He was previously arrested over his involvement in a 2014 murder case where a man was fatally shot during a drug deal.