Fair Lawn Police: Officer Nabs Paterson Bicyclist In Christmas Gift Thefts

FAIR LAWN, N.J. -- A Fair Lawn police officer chased down a Paterson man on a bicycle who authorities said swiped presents from porches on Christmas Eve.

Carmito Lugo, 34, dropped packages containing a teddy bear and mattress top, police said.
Photo Credit: *Wikipedia*

Jerry DeMarco

12/25/2015 4:30 p.m.

Carmito Lugo, 34, dropped packages containing a teddy bear and mattress top taken in separate thefts but still had four pair of denim jeans worth $184 shoplifted from the KMart on Broadway in a backpack, Sgt. Brian Metzler said.

Officer Michael Franco -- who was among a group of officers who raced to Hartley Place and Rosalie Street -- nabbed Lugo on Broadway at 26th Street after he ran from police three blocks away, Metzler said.

Police found the bicycle on Broadway at Grunauer Place, he said.

Lugo was charged with two counts of theft, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest and ordered held on $1,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.

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