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Police & Fire
Bergen Crime Wave Grows: Three Vehicles Stolen, 15 Burglarized In Waldwick Overnight Bergen Crime Wave Grows: Three Vehicles Stolen, 15 Burglarized In Waldwick Overnight
Bergen Crime Wave Grows: Three Vehicles Stolen, 15 Burglarized In Waldwick Overnight The epidemic of Bergen County vehicle thefts and car burglaries hit Waldwick hard overnight Friday – with three stolen and at least 15 reportedly burglarized by an organized crew in the span of an hour, authorities said. Anywhere from three to five bandits targeted vehicles parked west of Crescent Avenue between 2 and 3 a.m., Lt. Thomas Dowling said. Cypress Court, Lyon Road and Sycamore Drive were among the streets cited. "There is home video that is being viewed of them entering vehicles," Dowling said. The lieutenant asked, however, that anyone who lives or has property in the area…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Arrest Made In Ridgefield Park Home Invasion That Left Owner Pistol-Whipped, Slashed Arrest Made In Ridgefield Park Home Invasion That Left Owner Pistol-Whipped, Slashed
Arrest Made In Ridgefield Park Home Invasion That Left Owner Pistol-Whipped, Slashed Bergen County prosecutor's detectives and Ridgefield Park police made an arrest overnight Wednesday in a home invasion that left a village homeowner pistol-whipped and both him and an older woman slashed. Julian Mangal, 18, had been free, under New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, since village police charged him with a car burglary in June. ** UPDATE: Two more people were arrested in connection to a home invasion that left the owner and an older woman pistol-whipped and slashed ** Around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said, he searched an unlocked car outside the victims' 4th Street home. …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Tenafly PD: Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Ski Mask, Glove, Cellphones, More Tenafly PD: Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Ski Mask, Glove, Cellphones, More
Tenafly PD: Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Ski Mask, Glove, Cellphones, More A pair of car burglars tried to duck down in their seats when a Tenafly police officer caught them in the act, authorities said. In their car, police said they found a bunch of cellphones, a ski mask and several pairs of rubber-coated gloves, as well as a key fob to a Range Rover. On the lookout following a series of recent vehicle thefts and car burglaries, Officer Maxwell Werner spotted a suspicious Chevrolet Impala with Washington, DC license plates slowly reversing on the wrong side of the road on Coppell Drive near the intersection of Engle Street around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. Werner “im…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEEN HIM? Elmwood Park PD Turns To Public For Help After 52 Car Break-Ins Over Five Months SEEN HIM? Elmwood Park PD Turns To Public For Help After 52 Car Break-Ins Over Five Months
Seen HIM? Elmwood Park PD Turns To Public For Help After 52 Car Break-Ins Over Five Months Among the towns hit hardest by car burglars this summer has been Elmwood Park, with 52 over the past five months – every single one involving an unlocked vehicle, authorities said. A car burglar captured on home surveillance video could be from one of the bordering or nearby towns – Paterson, Passaic, Clifton, Garfield and Lodi, among them – as could others who are likely responsible. All of the break-ins occurred overnight (1 to 5 a.m.) across a wide area from Rosedale to Stone Avenue from April 1 to Aug. 24, Police Chief Michael Foligno said. “It should be noted that in all instances, th…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Prospect Park Car Burglary Spree Stopped, Three Teens Seized Prospect Park Car Burglary Spree Stopped, Three Teens Seized
Prospect Park Car Burglary Spree Stopped, Three Teens Seized Prospect Park police solved nearly a dozen car burglaries – as well as the theft of a sedan – with the seizure of three teens, authorities said Thursday. Detectives Arthur Canestrino and Detective Walter Richmond identified Justin Velez of Paterson and the two juveniles – one a 16-year-old from Haledon and the other a 15-year-old from Prospect Park – following the 10-day burglary spree earlier this month. Velez was arrested and charged with 10 counts of burglary and five counts of theft, including one for the stolen 2017 Chevy Cruze – which police returned to its owner, Capt. Ammen Matari s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Fresh From Prison, Mahwah Career Criminal Busted Yet Again -- For Purse Theft Fresh From Prison, Mahwah Career Criminal Busted Yet Again -- For Purse Theft
Fresh From Prison, Mahwah Career Criminal Busted Yet Again -- For Purse Theft A Mahwah ex-con with a 25-year criminal history was arrested in Secaucus by police who said they found him with a woman’s purse stolen during a pair of car burglaries. Only just released from state prison six months ago, 45-year-old Christopher Murano was caught with the goods just before 1 a.m. last Tuesday, Secaucus police said. He also had an outstanding warrant, they said. Secaucus police charged Murano with two counts of theft and sent him to the Hudson County Correctional Center. Records show he subsequently was released pending further court action. Murano was released from state p…

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by Jerry DeMarco & Cecilia Levine
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