Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Dec. 4 Kenneth Franke, 57, of Barnegat Township was charged with theft by unlawful taking in connection with incidents that occurred between January 2022 and this month in Barnegat and Lacey townships.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Barnegat Township Police Department and New Jersey Lottery Commission revealed Franke was committing thefts of New Jersey Lottery tickets from vending…