Four residents of a home on Maple Avenue in Montclair were forced to the floor last Thursday night, as two robbers wielding guns and covering their faces with scarves, opened a safe, stole computers, cellphones and $2,400 in cash, and told the victims to count to 20 while they escaped. Police later a Belleville man on charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and burglary. According to the victims’ story, the man who was known to them, had come to their house earlier, saying he had been robbed of shirt and socks in East Orange and asking to borrow some clothing.
Read the full report, and the rest of the blotter after the jump.
Home Invasion Arrest
On 2/10/12 at approximately 12:10 AM, police responded to an apartment on Maple Avenue on a report a home invasion that had occurred shortly before midnight. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victims who stated that at approximately 11:30 PM, they found an individual known to them as “O” at their rear door. This individual claimed that he had been robbed of his shirt and socks in East Orange. The individual was invited inside while one of the victims offered to allow him to borrow some clothing.
Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on the door. One of the victims opened the door and male wearing dark clothing forced his way into the apartment. The suspect is described as being approximately 5’2”-5’4”, with his face covered with a dark-colored or brown scarf. The male was brandishing a firearm that appeared to be a silver or black-colored older model revolver with a wooden handle. A second actor also entered the apartment brandishing a firearm. The pair then ordered the four residents to the ground, while “O” went into a bedroom and opened a safe. The three suspects rummaged through the apartment for a short while and at one point, covered one of the victim’s heads with a hat and told them to count to 20 before fleeing.
The following items were listed as stolen during the incident: a white-colored Mac Book valued at $1,300, a Droid X cell phone valued at $200, a Blackberry Curve cell phone valued at $200, A Lucky Brand purse valued at $250, a Galaxy X cellular phone valued at $200, an Apple iPod valued at $250, various identification cards, and approximately $2,400 in cash.
As a result of further identification, “O” was identified and charged with four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and burglary. Bail was set at $250,000. The Belleville man was placed under arrest on 2/12/12 at approximately 8:25 PM after Montclair Police personnel took custody of him from Belleville Police.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Theft
On 2/5/12 at approximately 3:10 PM, police responded to the YMCA on Park Street on a report of a theft. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim, a fifteen year old West Orange resident. The juvenile stated that he was playing basketball in the main gym on that date between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM. During this time, he had left his cell phone inside his sweatshirt on a bench near the ball court. When he retrieved the sweatshirt, he discovered that his cell phone was missing. The stolen phone is described as a black-colored Apple iPhone 4S, valued at $500. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Brian Fazio at 973-509-4730.
Car Fire
On 2/6/12 at approximately 11:40 AM, police were dispatched to the area of Valley Road and Normal Avenue in Upper Montclair on a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, police found the Fire Department personnel were on scene and the vehicle in question was a Chrysler Cirrus. The fire, which did not appear to be suspicious, was extinguished and no injuries were reported. The vehicle had been parked and unoccupied prior to the incident.
Theft
On 2/7/12 at approximately 11:05 PM, police received a report of a theft that occurred at the Erie Saloon on Depot Square. The victim, an Upper Montclair resident, stated that he was in the establishment on 2/3/12 and left the bar at closing time. He later realized that he had accidentally left his backpack inside the establishment. He returned to the bar the following day and spoke to an employee, who reported that she did not find any backpack. The victim reported that the backpack, which was colored blue, red, and yellow, contained an Apple iPad, valued at $500, as well as a set of headphones and a cell phone charger. There are no suspects at this time.
Burglary
On 2/7/12 at approximately 11:40 PM, police responded to a single-family residence on Union Street on a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim, who stated that she had arrived home on that date at approximately 9:00 PM and placed her computer bag, Apple iPad 2 and Apple iPhone 4 in her kitchen. Approximately fifteen minutes later, the victim left the house through a rear door to walk her dog, leaving the rear door unlocked. The victim returned to the house approximately five minutes later to retrieve her iPhone and discovered that the phone and iPad were no longer on the kitchen counter. In addition, $100 was missing from her wallet, which had also been left in the kitchen.
The victim reported that two family members were home during the time of the incident. Police spoke to these individuals, but neither reported hearing nor seeing anyone entering the residence. However, one of the residents checked his wallet, which had also been left in the kitchen, and discovered that $2 had been stolen from his wallet.
The iPhone 4 is described as black-colored, with a pink and white “Juicy” case and is valued at $250. The Apple iPad is described a black in color and is valued at $750. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Arrest
On 2/8/12, an officer assigned to the Montclair High School received a report of a theft of an iPod Touch from the gym. Upon further investigation, the officer was able to identify the suspect as a sixteen year old Montclair male. The officer recovered the iPod, valued at approximately $200, from the suspect and placed him under arrest. The juvenile was charged with theft and later turned over to a guardian.
Theft
On 2/9/12 at approximately 10:30 AM, police responded to the Walnut Food Market on Walnut Street on a report of a theft. The victim stated that during the previous week, someone had been stealing newspapers after they had been delivered to the front of the store. The victim reported that the papers are delivered daily between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM. There are no suspects at this time.
Burglary
On 2/11/12 at approximately 12:35 AM, police responded to a multi-family residence on Rosedale Avenue on a report of a burglary. Police spoke to the caller, who stated that she left the apartment on 2/10/12 at approximately 12:30 PM. She returned to the residence approximately twelve hours later and discovered the front door was open and that the frame to the entrance door to their apartment had been damaged. The victims reported that an Apple MacBook laptop computer, valued at $900, an Apple iPod, valued at $150, a MAC makeup bag, valued at $100, and approximately $320 in jewelry were stolen from the residence. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Vandalism
On 2/11/12 at approximately 11:15 AM, police responded to the Montclair Art Museum on South Mountain Avenue on a report of vandalism. Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee who reported that a piece of art located on the property had been damaged. The employee then escorted the officer to the west side of the property and directed him to the vandalism. The employee stated that the suspect had broken two screen doors to a small model cabin entitled “Donna Dennis Blue Cabin.” It appeared that the suspect had pushed the in the two screen doors and climbed inside. There are no suspects at this time.
Suspicious Activity
On 2/11/12 at approximately 7:05 PM, police responded to a single-family residence on Locust Drive on a report of suspicious activity. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant, who stated that at approximately 7:00 PM on that date, his dog started barking near the rear door to the residence. The complainant stated that he then saw an individual standing on the rear deck near the door. The caller told police that when he made eye contact with the individual, the suspect fled and was last seen running south on Locust Drive.
Theft
On 2/12/12 at approximately 5:15 AM, police responded to an apartment building on Greenwood Avenue on a report of a theft. Upon arrival, police spoke to a resident who stated that she was awakened approximately an hour prior by the sound of loud scraping outside her apartment. She later discovered that someone had stolen a wheelchair ramp that leads to her apartment. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Charles Cunningham at 973-509-4716.
Theft
On 2/12/12 at approximately 10:05 AM, police responded to a single-family residence on Lorraine Avenue in Upper Montclair on a report of a theft. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim, who stated that she had made two online purchases and that the packages were reportedly delivered to her residence on 1/31/12. The victim never received the packages, which were believed to have been stolen from her front porch. There are no suspects at this time.
Theft
On 2/12/12 at approximately 2:15 PM, police received a report of a theft that occurred at a church on Orange Road on the 11th. The victim told police that she attended a service on that date between 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM. During this time, she left her laptop computer in an office. Between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM on that date, the victim realized that the laptop was missing. There are no suspects at this time.
The stolen item is described as an Apple Mac Book Pro, seventeen inch, valued at approximately $3,400. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Found Property
On 2/12/12 at approximately 6:00 PM, police responded to an apartment building on Walnut Street on a report of suspicious items recovered in a trash room. Upon arrival, police met with an employee who escorted them to a garbage room on the fourth floor. The employee stated that he discovered a small bag containing assorted .38 pistol ammunition in the room. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-509-7543.
Theft from a Motor Vehicle
On 2/12/12 at approximately 9:30 PM, police received a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. The victim, an East Hanover resident, stated that she left her purse inside a Toyota Corolla parked on Walnut Street on that date at approximately 6:15 PM. When she returned to the vehicle approximately an hour later, she discovered that the purse was missing. It is believed that the suspect gained entry through an unlocked passenger’s side door. The purse contained $75 cash, two Nintendo 3DS games valued at a total of $70, various identification cards, and an Apple iPhone valued at $400. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lynn McCarthy at 973-509-4725.