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Instead, an unknown man emerged, fled through the bedroom window, and left the Howcroft Road apartment ransacked, according to Maywood Police Chief Terence Kenny.
Officers from Maywood and Rochelle Park police departments responded to the scene at 5:14 p.m., established a perimeter, and began their search, Kenny said. They determined the suspect had entered through an unlocked rear window, he added.
Shortly after, Detective Brian Rubio located the suspect, identified as Deep Patel, a 19-year-old man from Lake Hiawatha, near the garages of the rear apartment complex.
Patel was arrested and charged with burglary, theft, and hindering apprehension, Kenny said. He was lodged in the Bergen County Jail.
This is not Patel’s first encounter with Maywood police. According to Kenny, Patel was arrested three times in recent weeks:
- Oct. 15, 2024: Charged with theft after stealing cash from a library employee’s pocketbook. Released.
- Oct. 18, 2024: Charged with theft for stealing a bicycle. Released.
- Nov. 12, 2024: Charged with burglary, theft, and hindering apprehension for stealing a pocketbook at the Dollar Tree on Essex Street. Lodged in Bergen County Jail but later released.
Residents are urged to secure windows and doors to prevent similar incidents.
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