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Evidence turned up at the very first break-in -- at a two-family home on Oak Street on Nov. 29, Detective Sgt. Jim DePreta told Daily Voice.
The intruder "smashed a basement window, stole numerous articles of jewelry from the downstairs apartment and then proceeded to force entry to the upstairs apartment," where he stole jewelry, as well, DePreta said.
Detectives from the Bergen County Sheriffs' Bureau of Criminal Identification responded and lifted the fingerprint, the sergeant said.
Several more break-ins occurred until earlier this month, when the State Police lab in West Trenton matched the print to the 17-year-old.
Borough detectives filed a delinquency complaint charging him with burglary, theft and criminal mischief.
A judge ordered the boy held pending a hearing in the Family Division of Superior Court in Hackensack.
Meanwhile, detectives are exploring possible connrections to other burglaries, which could lead to more complaints, DePreta said.
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