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Saddle Brook PD: Fingerprint Leads To Car Dealership Safe Thief

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- His fingerprints led Saddle Brook detectives to a Paterson man who they said stole a safe from a Route 46 car dealership with two accomplices.

Tahaad D. Caster

Tahaad D. Caster

Photo Credit: MUGSHOT: Courtesy SADDLE BROOK PD

"There was no money -- just car keys and fobs inside," Police Chief Robert Kugler told Daily Voice.

Tahaad D. Caster, 20, of Paterson already was in the Passaic County Jail charges that include sexual assault on a child, burglary and violation probation after being arrested Friday, records show.

Saddle Brook Police Detectives John Tritto and Scott Habermann reviewed on-site video surveillance of the crime, while the Bergen County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification collected and analyzed fingerprints and DNA found at the scene, Kugler said.

The footage shows a black vehicle pulling up behind the Auto Trader lot around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, after which two men get out, leaving a third behind, the chief said.

One threw a brick through the front glass door, shattering it, then went inside while his accomplice waited, he said.

He then hands the second man the safe through the front door, Kugler said.

"The safe appears to be to heavy for them and they damage a vehicle in the lot as they walk by," the chief said.

Then they threw the safe over the fence leading to the rear of 205 North 6th Street and followed behind it.

Later, they are seen returning to the vehicle with the third thief -- without the safe.

"The vehicle backs out of the parking lot and heads north on 5th Street," Kugler said.

The fingerprint match led to Caster, who was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief, he said.

The investigation was continuing, the chief said.

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