East Rutherford detectives pegged Tyler Maxamillian Lusardi-Paz, 24, as their primary suspect after the Gerstenberger EMG .32-caliber weapon, $200 in cash and wrapped rolls of coins were stolen in the 10:50 p.m. break-in Friday at Caffe Capri on Park Avenue, Police Chief Larry Minda said this morning.
He got in by prying open a rear door using a wood-handled ice scraper, then forced open and office door and cash register, the chief said.
Detectives reviewing surveillance video quickly identified Lusardi-Paz, who has a recent history of commercial burglaries and drug court violations on his rap sheet.
Carlstadt police took him into custody at 9:30 p.m. yesterday — assisted by East Rutherford and Wood-Ridge police — after finding Lusardi-Paz at a 2nd Street residence, Carlstadt Police Chief Thomas Nielsen said this afternoon.
Besides the stolen gun, he was carrying Percocet medication, marijuana and a hypodermic needle, Nielsen said.
Lusardi-Paz was being held on $55,000 combined bail in the Bergen County Jal, charged with burglary and theft in East Rutherford and with receiving stolen property and gun and weapons possession counts in Carlstadt.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy EAST RUTHERFORD PD
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