N.J. teens accused of stealing gifts from Pemberton home on Christmas morning

A trio of teenagers are accused of stealing a woman's Christmas Wednesday, snatching the presents from underneath the tree inside her Pemberton Township home while she smoked a cigarette in the backyard.

The woman told police she woke up sometime before 6 a.m. Christmas morning, turned on her Christmas tree lights and unlocked her front door in anticipation arriving guests. The woman then went to smoke a cigarette out back of her home, located on the 400 block of Colorado Trail. 

She soon heard her front door open. When she went inside to investigate, she found it wasn't Santa making a late delivery. Instead, the woman interrupted three teens allegedly underneath her Christmas tree, stealing her family's presents, including those intended for her 7-year-old daughter.

The woman chased the men up the street as they fled, pilfered packages in hand. She was able to get a description of their vehicle and pass it on to officers. A patrolman stopped the suspects' car and arrested occupants Eric Conover, 19, Corey Morgan, 18, and an unidentified 17-year-old juvenile.

The investigation didn't end there: A second resident on Colorado Trail reported someone had broken into his car. He said nothing appeared to have been taken, but the contents of his glove compartment and center console were emptied out onto his front seat.

A search of the car allegedly turned up one of the stolen presents, as well as shreds of wrapping paper consistent with that used by a resident of the burglarized home. The teens during an interview allegedly admitted to the burglaries of both the house and car.

The juvenile was processed and released to his parents. Morgan and Conover spent a not-so-merry Christmas in the Burlington County Jail, where they were each imprisoned on $75,000 full bail.