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Police & Fire
Shoelace, Glue Traps: Fort Lee Detective, Officer Nab Postal Box Fishing Thieves Shoelace, Glue Traps: Fort Lee Detective, Officer Nab Postal Box Fishing Thieves
Shoelace, Glue Traps: Fort Lee Detective, Officer Nab Postal Box Fishing Thieves Fighting the growing trend of check thefts from postal boxes, Fort Lee police nabbed a Teaneck man and a companion who they said had collected a bundle with a shoelace and glue traps. Detective Dimitri Findanis and Officer Michael Kelly first spotted an illegally parked 2013 Nissan Altima near a drop box on 15th Street on Friday, Capt. Matthew Hintze said. They then saw Adrian Baucum, 19, of Teaneck standing nearby, Hintze said. Both recognized Baucum from previous incidents – he’s awaiting trial on a host of ID theft charges -- so they approached him and the Altima, the captain said. The…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Oakland PD: Police Nab ID Thief Who Bought $15,000 In Gift Cards With Victim's Credit Card Oakland PD: Police Nab ID Thief Who Bought $15,000 In Gift Cards With Victim's Credit Card
Oakland PD: Police Nab ID Thief Who Bought $15,000 In Gift Cards With Victim's Credit Card An identity thief ordered $15,000 in gift cards using an innocent victim's credit card – then was nabbed by Oakland police as he picked them up, authorities said. Sgt. Michael O’Neill and Officers Gary Fiore and Gary Gusterson were waiting when Gregory Gordon, 27, showed up at the local Walgreens to pick up the cards, which were shipped there via FedEx, Detective Lt. Christian Eldridge said. A Wanaque resident had alerted authorities after discovering bogus charges on his credit card, Eldridge said. Police then “coordinated with employees of Walgreens, who alerted [them] when an [Gordon] a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Rochelle Park Burglary Suspect Nabbed Heading Into Court On Other Charge Rochelle Park Burglary Suspect Nabbed Heading Into Court On Other Charge
Rochelle Park Burglary Suspect Nabbed Heading Into Court On Other Charge A man suspected of committing a trio of Rochelle Park burglaries was arrested when he showed up for court in Hackensack on another charge – and was found carrying documents stolen during one of the break-ins, authorities said. Ismael Estrella, 38, of Forest Hills, Queens, also had bogus driver’s licenses and credit cards created using the identity of one of the victims with him when he was taken into custody outside the Bergen County Courthouse, they said. Detective Sgt. Jim DePreta originally arrested Estrella after spotting him on Madison Avenue six days after the Dec. 4 burglaries. Estr…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEEN THEM? Police Say Maywood/Hackensack Locker Thieves Stole Cards Used In Paramus SEEN THEM? Police Say Maywood/Hackensack Locker Thieves Stole Cards Used In Paramus
Seen Them? Police Say Maywood/Hackensack Locker Thieves Stole Cards Used In Paramus Maywood and Hackensack police turned to the public for help finding a pair of locker room thieves who they said stole credit cards from two area health clubs, then used them at the Target store in Paramus. The actual thief struck at the HackensackUMC Fitness and Wellness Center on northbound Route 17 in Maywood and Retro Fitness on Commerce Way in Hackensack, both on July 3, Detective Matthew Parodi said. Both times, he handed the stolen credit cards off to a second man, who used them at target. If you see or know either or both of the men in the photos, contact Parodi at (201) 845-8800 or…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEEN THEM? Mahwah PD Seeks Help Finding Car Burglars SEEN THEM? Mahwah PD Seeks Help Finding Car Burglars
Seen Them? Mahwah PD Seeks Help Finding Car Burglars Mahwah police turned to the public Thursday for help finding two car burglars. The thefts occurred in and around the Cragmere area around 2 a.m. Wednesday, Police Chief James N. Batelli said. “The proceeds from one of the thefts included a credit card which was used to purchase a number of items at a Walmart In Kearny” a couple of hours later, the chief said. If you see or know either or both of the two men in the photos, Batelli asked that you contact Mahwah police at (201) 529-1000, ext. 218, or tips@mahwahpd.org. All information will remain confidential, he said. “Residents are reminde…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Garfield Shoplifter Caught Carrying Car Burglary Proceeds, Police Say Garfield Shoplifter Caught Carrying Car Burglary Proceeds, Police Say
Garfield Shoplifter Caught Carrying Car Burglary Proceeds, Police Say GARFIELD, N.J. -- Garfield police got more than they expected when they busted a shoplifter before dawn Monday and found him carrying a credit card stolen during a car burglary less than an hour and a half before, authorities said. Dion C. Coleman, 27, of West Milford was nabbed just after 1 a.m. at the Walmart on Passaic Street, Detective Capt. Darren Sucorowski said. Police found him carrying the card and other items taken during a car break-in reported on Harrison Avenue around 11:45 p.m. Coleman was charged with burglary, receiving stolen property and credit card theft. He was being h…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Police: 500 Fake Credit Cards Found Before Florida Fraudster Hits Newark Police: 500 Fake Credit Cards Found Before Florida Fraudster Hits Newark
Police: 500 Fake Credit Cards Found Before Florida Fraudster Hits Newark After finding 500 bogus credit and gift cards in his checked luggage, police at Orlando Airport called ahead to their Port Authority colleagues, who arrested a convicted con man as he got off a plane in Newark, authorities said. Robert Smith-Merced, 46, Kissimmee FL, "was unaware that the luggage holding the fraudulent cards was still being held by authorities in Orlando" when he got off the Delta flight around 10 a.m. Thursday, the authority's Joseph Pentangelo said. Officers waiting at the gate found him carrying three fake credit cards and a bogus Connecticut driver's license, …

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by Jerry DeMarco