33°
The woman called police Wednesday night, telling them that Ruben Vasquez had broken into her home, Police Chief Carmello Imbruglia said.
Given its proximity to the Flapjax Pancake and Steakhouse -- which was burglarized a day earlier -- and Vasquez's drug addiction, Detective Sgt. Rock accompanied patrol officers to the apartment, Imbruglia said.
The 6-foot, 218-pound Vasquez has a criminal record stretching back more than 20 years, including for selling drugs, burglary and mostly shoplifting.
On Wednesday night, the girlfriend showed him a text from Ruben on her phone in which "he stated that he robbed a bank," the chief said.
Given her permission to enter the apartment, officers found Ruben inside, Imbruglia said.
A pile of his clothes was found near the window he'd climbed in through, the chief said.
They included a blue- and red-brimmed Cleveland Cavaliers cap and a black hoody with gray sleeves -- the same as worn in the burglaries of Flapjax and Spencer’s Savings Bank on Maple Avenue, he said.
Vasquez was carrying two $5 rolls of dimes found stolen from Flapjax, the chief added.
A judge ordered him held on $7,500 bail, charged with two counts of burglary and two of criminal mischief -- and an additional criminal mischief count for damaging a holding bench at police headquarters, Imbruglia said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Lyndhurst and receive free news updates.
