Seen HIM? Garfield Police Hunt Tool Thief Chased Into Passaic

GARFIELD, N.J. – A thief emerging from a Garfield backyard before dawn Monday was chased by an off-duty city police officer to Passaic, said authorities who retrieved two backpacks filled with stolen power tools that he dropped along the way.

Authorities asked that anyone who might have seen something or can help authorities identify the 5-foot-8-inch suspect call Garfield PD: (973) 478-8500.
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Garfield PD*

Jerry DeMarco

06/19/2017 11:38 a.m.

Officer Luis Teran recognized the 30-something suspect in the photo above as a person of interest wanted in connection with a Saturday car burglary a block away, Capt. Darren Sucorowski said.

Teran identified himself as a police officer when he saw the man emerge from a Grand Street backyard just after 1:30 a.m. wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, the captain said.

But the thief took off carrying both backpacks, he said.

After dropping both of them, he fled over a narrow railroad bridge crossing the Passaic River at Monroe Street, Sucorowski said.

Teran cut off the chase at that point.

Besides the backpacks, police found a van with a broken window that the owner confirmed the tools were stolen from, the captain said.

He asked that anyone who might have seen something or can help authorities identify the 5-foot-8-inch suspect call Garfield PD: (973) 478-8500.

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