Wildwood Boardwalk Heist As Man Steals Morey’s Piers Ferris Wheel Parts
There is always something happening on the Wildwood Boardwalk, even in the quieter winter months.
This time, it was not a new business opening or a construction update, but a police investigation that unfolded near Adventure Pier.
According to a press released by the Wildwood Police Department, officers were dispatched on February 4, 2026, at approximately 3:26 p.m. to investigate a reported theft in the area of Adventure Pier.
The report centered on a significant amount of metal that had allegedly been removed from the beach area over the course of several days.
For those who don’t know, the Morey’s Piers Giant Wheel is going though a massive renovation.
This involved removing the entirety of the wheel, including the center or the hub, refurbishing the hub, and refurbishing the spokes around the giant wheel.
To make things easier for themselves, Morey’s Piers put together a temporary workshop right on the beach next to Morey’s Adventure Pier. It is here that this incident took place.
There, pieces of the wheel has been laid out on the beach to prepare them to be sandblasted and repainted. These pieces include everything from giant bolts to 30+ feet long wheel spokes.
The theft was not a one-time incident. Authorities say the metal had been taken gradually to a value over $175,000.
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After reviewing surveillance footage, Morey’s Piers was able to provide police with a description of both a suspect and a vehicle believed to be involved.
The case was turned over to the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division, which conducted a follow-up investigation. Detectives ultimately identified the suspect as William Morelli, 67, of Wildwood Crest.
Police allege that Morelli removed a large quantity of metal from the beach area near Adventure Pier and later sold the material to a scrap yard business.
The specific type of metal removed has not been detailed publicly, but thefts involving scrap metal, especially in these shapes, are not uncommon in shore communities.
But these pieces are very different than things that would be brought into a scrapper. Such as large curved beams, 30-foot pieces, and giant bolts.
As a result of the investigation, Morelli was arrested, processed, and charged with Theft of Movable Property under N.J.S. 2C:20-3a.
Wildwood Ferris Wheel Enters Next Phase of Major Refurbishment
Their statement ended with;
“He was later released on a summons complaint in accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines, promulgated in connection with the Criminal Justice Bail Reform Policies and Directives. The defendant was charged after a finding of probable cause and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
The Wildwood Video Archive has been documenting the refurbishment of the Giant Wheel in several of our recap videos.
To watch the day they started to remove the wheel, watch the video below and please do subscribe.