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Police & Fire
Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam
Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam A crew of con artists from New Jersey admitted swindling more than $1.3 million from hundreds of businesses nationwide and abroad that thought they were buying specialized aviation equipment. The head of the operation, Antonio P. Signo, 36, of Somerset – aka "Tony Demetro" – had been the first to take a deal from prosecutors rather than face the potential consequences of a trial. The onetime fugitive pleaded guilty last August -- with no public notice from authorities – to a single count of theft by deception, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin revealed on Thursday, May 25. The…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
DEAD END: Elmwood Park Police Capture Fleeing Driver After 7-Eleven Car Theft DEAD END: Elmwood Park Police Capture Fleeing Driver After 7-Eleven Car Theft
Dead END: Elmwood Park Police Capture Fleeing Driver After 7-Eleven Car Theft A Bronx man was captured by Elmwood Park police moments after he swiped a sedan from outside a local 7-Eleven early Wednesday, authorities said. Officers responding to the victim’s call spotted the 2016 Chrysler 200 turning off Broadway onto Mola Boulevard shortly before 1 a.m. May 17, Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said. Jeffrey Ciman, 48, initially refused to stop but eventually pulled over and was taken into custody on dead-ended Iozia Terrace, the chief said. The sedan was returned to the victim, Foligno said. Ciman, meanwhile, was brought to headquarters, where the chief s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Teen Driver, Passenger Switch Seats In Moving Vehicle During Clifton Pursuit Teen Driver, Passenger Switch Seats In Moving Vehicle During Clifton Pursuit
Teen Driver, Passenger Switch Seats In Moving Vehicle During Clifton Pursuit Two teenage drivers switched seats in a stolen vehicle while it was moving in a Clifton police pursuit, authorities said. Officer Mohammed Rayyan was on patrol on northbound Route 21 when he began following the 2018 Hyundai occupied by three juveniles shortly before 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14, Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Passaic days earlier, he said. The teens made it to Paterson, where "the driver and front seat passenger switched positions while the vehicle was continuing in motion," Bracken said. The driver then sped off and a pursuit b…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Clifton Stolen Car Pursuit Through Paterson Ends In Arrests Of Sex Offender, Hackensack Pal Clifton Stolen Car Pursuit Through Paterson Ends In Arrests Of Sex Offender, Hackensack Pal
Clifton Stolen Car Pursuit Through Paterson Ends In Arrests Of Sex Offender, Hackensack Pal A registered sex offender from Belleville and his Hackensack passenger were captured by Clifton police after they bailed out of a stolen SUV following a pursuit through Paterson, authorities said. Officer Matt West spotted the 2015 Honda Pilot on southbound Route 21 near Ackerman Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Clifton last Thursday, he said. Refusing to stop, Frank Carfagno, a 38-year-old registered Megan's Law offender from Belleville, led officers on a pursuit through the streets of Paterson, the l…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Stolen Car Driver Says She's Returning It To Owner: Lyndhurst PD Stolen Car Driver Says She's Returning It To Owner: Lyndhurst PD
Stolen Car Driver Says She's Returning It To Owner: Lyndhurst PD A driver wanted on multiple warrants told a Lyndhurst police officer who stopped her in a stolen SUV that she was returning it to the owner, authorities said. Toshi Gray, 49, of East Orange was carrying illegal prescription drugs and paraphernalia when Officer Nicollette Villani stopped an Acura MDX on Kingsland and Riverside avenues around 2:30 a.m. Monday, March 27, Lt. Vincent Auteri said. Gray told Villani she knew that the SUV was stolen and was bringing it back to its owner, the lieutenant said. She was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and minor drug and parapherna…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor
Bergen Drug Detectives Nab Queens Driver In Stolen Car: Prosecutor Bergen County drug detectives caught a Queens driver with a criminal history driving a car stolen out of Florida, authorities said. Wilbert Toussaint, 31, of Jamaica was released pending court action following his arrest on receiving stolen property charges, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Investigators working a drug case stopped Touissant at an undisclosed location. They "were able to confirm the vehicle was reported stolen from Clay County, Florida on February 16, 2023," Musella said. Toussaint's record includes charges a decade ago for selling fake credit cards in Montgom…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Elmwood Park PD: Where Did Stolen Mail, Purse, Other Belongings In Hudson Trio's Car Come From? Elmwood Park PD: Where Did Stolen Mail, Purse, Other Belongings In Hudson Trio's Car Come From?
Elmwood Park PD: Where Did Stolen Mail, Purse, Other Belongings In Hudson Trio's Car Come From? A trio from Jersey City couldn’t explain what a stack of mail and other people’s belongings were doing in their car when they were stopped by Elmwood Park police before dawn Friday, authorities said. They also couldn’t name the friend whom they’d supposedly come to the area to visit, Police Chief Michael Foligno said. Two of them ended up in custody. A resident alerted police to the outsiders apparently burglarizing vehicles on Falmouth Avenue near Mola Boulevard around 1 a.m. Feb. 24, Foligno said. Moments later, Officer Kenneth McKinney stopped a 2006 Honda Pilot that fit the descriptio…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Ex-Con In Edgewater Stop Had Gun, High-Capacity Mags, Drugs, Cash Stashed: Police Ex-Con In Edgewater Stop Had Gun, High-Capacity Mags, Drugs, Cash Stashed: Police
Ex-Con In Edgewater Stop Had Gun, High-Capacity Mags, Drugs, Cash Stashed: Police An ex-con from New York City had a handgun, two high-capacity magazines, drugs and cash stashed in a secret compartment when an Edgewater police officer pulled his vehicle over, authorities said. Officer Michael Colon stopped a Jeep Cherokee driven by Wilson Ortiz of the Chelsea section of Manhattan for several violations near police headquarters on River Road shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20. While talking with him, Colon became suspicious and requested a Bergen County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, Detective Lt. Steven Tibus said. Edgewater Officers Ricardo Hernandez, Julian Delgado and Dan Ma…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Five Out-Of-Towners Seized After Paramus Stolen Car Pursuit Ends In Englewood Crash Five Out-Of-Towners Seized After Paramus Stolen Car Pursuit Ends In Englewood Crash
Five Out-Of-Towners Seized After Paramus Stolen Car Pursuit Ends In Englewood Crash An Essex County quintet was arrested by Paramus police following the pursuit of a stolen Dodge Challenger that crashed in Englewood. Officer Slavko Bajovic spotted the stolen muscle car on southbound Route 17 after hearing an alert that it was involved in an attempted vehicle theft in Ridgewood shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, Paramus Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg said. Bajovic tried to stop the Challenger after a computer check showed that it had been reported stolen out of Old Bridge, the chief said. The driver refused to stop, however, and continued down Route 17 onto eastbound …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Armed Passenger Seized, Female Driver Found Hiding In Building Laundry Room After Teaneck Crash Armed Passenger Seized, Female Driver Found Hiding In Building Laundry Room After Teaneck Crash
Armed Passenger Seized, Female Driver Found Hiding In Building Laundry Room After Teaneck Crash Two people who fled a crash in Teaneck were captured by police – one of whom was carrying a gun and another who was found hiding in the laundry room of a nearby apartment building in a change of clothes, authorities said. It was just after 2 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, when Teaneck police responded to a report of a vehicle crashing into a pole at the intersection of Degraw Avenue and Gifford Place. They found a woman on the ground and another rendering aid, Acting Police Chief Andrew R. McGurr said. The officers also noticed a man trying to tip away, the chief said, adding that he refused their o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Hackensack PD: Officers Nab Out-Of-State Burglar In The Act Hackensack PD: Officers Nab Out-Of-State Burglar In The Act
Hackensack PD: Officers Nab Out-Of-State Burglar In The Act A business burglar caught in the act by Hackensack police before dawn is suspected in a number of other area break-ins, as well, authorities said. Adebayo Adedoyin, 26, of Staten Island was seized on the premises of the Myer Street business by Officers Michael Scangarella, Aaron Rios, Ben Farhi, and Michael Koenig around 5 a.m. New Year’s Eve, said Capt. Michael Antista, the officer in charge of the department. Adedoyin, who is unemployed, had items he’d stolen from five of its vehicles along with burglary tools, the captain said. Nearby was his vehicle, which contained additional proceeds…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
GOTCHA! Wayne Police Not Fooled By Bogus Bomb Threat At Willowbrook Mall GOTCHA! Wayne Police Not Fooled By Bogus Bomb Threat At Willowbrook Mall
Gotcha! Wayne Police Not Fooled By Bogus Bomb Threat At Willowbrook Mall The driver of a stolen car stopped by Wayne police called in a bomb threat at the Macy’s in the Willowbrook Mall in the hopes of distracting them, authorities charged. Capt. Michael McNiff wasn’t fooled. While units responded to the 911 call at the mall, McNiff reminded officers on the road that it could be a diversionary tactic, Detective Capt. Dan Daly said. Sure enough, the call was traced to Shaquanda White, 30, of East Orange, who was driving a Honda Accord that had just been stopped by Officer Chris Savitsky outside the Yard House restaurant at Willowbrook, the captain said. The se…

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by Jerry DeMarco