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New Milford Police: Drug-Addicted Car Burglar, Boyfriend Busted

NEW MILFORD, N.J. -- A heroin-addicted car burglar caught in the act by a New Milford couple punched one of them in the chest and took off before borough detectives tracked down and arrested her and her boyfriend, authorities said Tuesday.

Alison Rastelli, Alex Berich

Alison Rastelli, Alex Berich

Photo Credit: MUGSHOTS: Courtesy NEW MILFORD PD

Alison Rastelli, 39, of New Milford was in a neighbor's driveway after rifling through the victim's car on Roslyn Avenue near the Dumont border just after midnight Oct. 24, Detective Sgt. Kevin Van Saders said.

"The suspect was able to get away after she punched the victim in the chest," while the other witness called police, he said.

A portable GPS unit turned up missing from the car, Van Saders added.

New Milford detectives worked with their colleagues from Dumont, Cliffside Park and Fairview in identifying Rastelli -- then conducted a warranted search of her home, the sergeant said.

They found evidence of the vehicle burglary, as well as 379 bags of heroin, 20 individual baggies of crack/cocaine, 87 Xanax pills and drug paraphernalia, he said.

A judge ordered Rastelli held on $125,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with robbery, burglary, theft and various drug counts.

Her boyfriend, 27-year-old Alex Berich, also of New Milford, was charged with various drug offenses and ordered held on $75,000 bail in the county jail.

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