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Police & Fire
Once Again, Unlocked Cars Are Ransacked, This Time In Saddle Brook Once Again, Unlocked Cars Are Ransacked, This Time In Saddle Brook
Once Again, Unlocked Cars Are Ransacked, This Time In Saddle Brook The rash of thefts from unlocked vehicles in North Jersey hit Saddle Brook, among other towns, this past weekend. Most of the eight vehicles burglaries were in the north end of town on or near Colonial Avenue, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. "In all of the incidents it appears the cars were left unlocked," Kugler said. Like his colleagues in law enforcement, Kugler urged vehicle owners to use common sense. "These burglaries happen in the darkness," the chief said. "Those responsible are just pulling on door handles hoping for one or more to open. "When one doesn't, they keep moving. W…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Police: Car Burglary Trio Nabbed At Mahwah Condo Complex Police: Car Burglary Trio Nabbed At Mahwah Condo Complex
Police: Car Burglary Trio Nabbed At Mahwah Condo Complex Mahwah police captured a trio of overnight car burglars from Pascack Valley thanks to an alert patrol officer and several residents, authorities said. Officer Dan Stewart spotted a woman attempting to avoid attention by leaning back in the driver’s seat of a 2004 Ford Explorer parked at the Paddington Square condo complex just after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Police Chief Stephen Jaffe said. Sage Maxon, 18, of Washington Township, “claimed she was there to pick up a friend who lived nearby,” Jaffe said. A check of the address she gave Stewart turned out bogus, the chief said. A search of the ve…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEEN IT? Suspected Car ID'd After Windows Smashed, Belongings Stolen At Westwood Charity Event SEEN IT? Suspected Car ID'd After Windows Smashed, Belongings Stolen At Westwood Charity Event
Seen IT? Suspected Car ID'd After Windows Smashed, Belongings Stolen At Westwood Charity Event Westwood police released a photo of a sedan that they believe may have been involved in a mini-burglary spree that left the windows of three vehicles smashed and valuables stolen during a weekend charity event. Three vehicles had their windows smashed and valuables taken during Sunday’s Berkeley School Charity Walk-A-Thon at Westvale Park, Police Chief Michael Pontillo said. The break-ins occurred between 1:21 p.m. and 1:31 p.m. -- 10 minutes, the chief said. The suspected vehicle -- possibly a four-door black Volkswagen Jetta or Passat -- pulled into a parking spot, then left a short tim…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Car Burglars Caught By Cresskill Police Car Burglars Caught By Cresskill Police
Car Burglars Caught By Cresskill Police Targeting dark houses without exterior lighting, a pair of car burglars entered nearly a dozen vehicles in Cresskill and made off with wallets, cash, change and sunglasses before borough police nabbed them. Officer Matthew Banta was on patrol just before 4 a.m. Saturday when he spotted the pair, dressed all in black, walking on McGrath Drive, Detective Charles Franke said He and Officer Shawn Cole arrested both after finding them carrying items taken from unlocked vehicles in the borough, Franke said. Jonathan Park, 18, and Leonely Gomez, 20, both of Leonia, were charged with several count…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Blame Key Fobs: Fort Lee PD Nabs Seven Teens In 17 Vehicle Burglaries, Four Auto Thefts Blame Key Fobs: Fort Lee PD Nabs Seven Teens In 17 Vehicle Burglaries, Four Auto Thefts
Blame Key Fobs: Fort Lee PD Nabs Seven Teens In 17 Vehicle Burglaries, Four Auto Thefts Fort Lee police cracked a rash of vehicle burglaries and thefts by seizing seven Hudson County teens – three of them 16 and one 15, authorities said Tuesday. A total of 17 break-ins and four outright thefts of automobiles were reported over a 10-day span in August in Fort Lee alone, Capt. Matthew Hintze said, adding that others were reported in neighboring Cliffside Park, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Leonia. Blame key fobs, he said. “Although this technology has added a level of convenience, it has also created opportunities for criminals to burglarize and steal vehicles without hav…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
RECOGNIZE HIM? New Milford PD Seeks Help Finding Burglary Suspect RECOGNIZE HIM? New Milford PD Seeks Help Finding Burglary Suspect
Recognize HIM? New Milford PD Seeks Help Finding Burglary Suspect NEW MILFORD, N.J. -- New Milford police on Tuesday released surveillance photos of a possible burglary suspect in the hopes that someone recognizes him. Depicted in the photos are a "person of interest" sought by police following a Sunday morning vehicle burglary on River Road in the north end of town, Detective Lt. Kevin Van Saders said. Taken were credit cards used to make a purchase at a local Dunkin Donuts. If you see or know the person in the photos, please contact the New Milford Police Department: (201) 261-1400. Callers can remain anonymous.

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Haworth Police Sergeant Chases, Catches 16-Year-Old Car Thief In Dumont Haworth Police Sergeant Chases, Catches 16-Year-Old Car Thief In Dumont
Haworth Police Sergeant Chases, Catches 16-Year-Old Car Thief In Dumont HAWORTH, N.J. -- A Haworth police sergeant chased and caught a 16-year-old car thief who authorities said broke into several vehicles in Closter and Harrington Park, taking debit cards and a couple hundred dollars in cash. Sgt. Gianluca Ragone began following the stolen Mazda just after 3 a.m. Saturday, Sgt. Justin Fox said. "The car was all over the road, so [Ragone] attempted to pull it over," Fox told Daily Voice. "He failed to stop and took off instead." Ragone chased the car through the White Beeches Country Club golf course and eventually into Dumont, where the Ne…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne Police Nab Quartet In Car Burglary Spree Wayne Police Nab Quartet In Car Burglary Spree
Wayne Police Nab Quartet In Car Burglary Spree WAYNE, N.J. – They prowled the quiet streets of Wayne overnight looking for vehicles that they could steal or burglarize – but thanks to an alert resident, police arrested a quartet of suspects. The Stagg Road resident called police around 2:40 a.m. Wednesday: She’d seen someone get out of an older-model Chevy Blazer parked near her property and toward her vehicles before suddenly running back, Detective Capt. Laurence Martin said. Moments later, Sgt. Dan Dubois spotted and stopped the SUV on Riverview Drive. The four occupants had items, including a wallet, that had just been stolen from …

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by Jerry DeMarco