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The bandits struck on March 16 — first on Edwin Avenue in Fort Lee at 11 a.m. and then, 90 minutes later, in the Brownstone apartment complex just off Route 4 and South Brunt Street, Detective Capt. Timothy Torell told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Each time, the female crew member went to the building entrances and waited, Torell said. When someone either used a key or was buzzed in, she followed that person in, he said.
VIDEO (Courtesy Englewood/Fort Lee police):
She then summoned her accomplices on a cell phone and waited in a late-model Chevy Impala parked outside while they looted the Fort Lee residence of $4,000 worth of jewelry and cash and two Browstone apartments of more than $165,000 worth of cash, jewelry and electronics from one victim alone and $500 in foreign currency and electronics from the other.
They toted the booty away in bags taken from the victims, Torell noted.
In the Englewood break-ins, “neither victim had their deadbolt locks engaged,” the captain told CLIFFVIEW PILOT, adding that the thieves “were able to exploit a weakness in the bottom door locks and gain entry without the need for brute force that might attract attention from other residents in the building.”
They “most likely knocked on apartment doors before entering,” he said. “When no one answered, they made entry.
“This is a common tactic of residential burglars,” Torell added. “At least one resident saw [them] acting suspiciously but never called the police.
Englewood and Fort Lee detectives shared images from the security footage and discovered they were hunting the same crew.
“We both believe the quality of the security footage will lead to someone in the public recognizing these three and calling us,” Torell said. “All we need are some names before they strike again.”
All calls will remain confidential, he said.
DO YOU KNOW THEM? CALL:
ENGLEWOOD PD: (201) 568-2711
FORT LEE PD: (201) 592-3700
IMAGES: Courtesy ENGLEWOOD/FORT LEE PDs
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