Follow-up investigative work helped lead to the arrest of an accused thief who, Lyndhurst police suspect, had been targeting older female shoppers as his prey.
On Nov. 10, at around 6 p.m., two women shopping at the ShopRite on New York Ave. reported to store security that someone had removed wallets from their pocketbooks while they were moving about the store.
Some of the contents from those wallets were later recovered in the store but one of the women told police she lost $120 in cash.
On Oct. 26, a similar theft was reported by another Shop-Rite patron who lost credit cards in the process. Soon after, police learned that someone had used one of those cards to make a purchase at a store in Clifton.
Fortunately, police said, that person was captured on the store’s surveillance camera videotape and they were able to extract an image of him from the tape. They subsequently shared this image with ShopRite security employees in case the man returned to the store.
Which, apparently, he did, police said.
At 3:40 p.m. on Nov. 12, ShopRite security personnel pounced on Orlando Valle, 52, of Rutherford, after Valle had allegedly taken the purse of an 88-year-old Belleville female shopper.
Valle was charged with theft and ordered held at the Bergen County Jail on $10,000 bail, no 10%, pending court action.
He will likely face theft charges from police in other towns where stolen cards were used, police said.
Police encourage shoppers to exercise caution when carrying their valuables.
In other criminal activity during the past week, police reported these items:
Nov. 15
2:22 a.m. — Police pulled over the driver of a 2010 Honda traveling east on Kingsland Ave. near Weart Ave. after being clocked doing 46 mph in a 25 mph zone.
Tara Bruce, 21, of Nutley, was issued summonses for speeding and DWI. Police impounded her Honda.
Nov. 13
11:35 p.m. — The owner of a 2010 Nissan reported the removal of several shopping bags containing $770 worth of clothing, electronics items and sunglasses from the Nissan while it was parked in the 700 block of Fifth St. There was no sign of forced entry, police said.
2:38 p.m. — The owners of a house in the 500 block of Chase Ave. told police that someone had pilfered two cast-iron patio chairs, valued at $100 apiece, from their property. Police said the homeowners had just returned from a 2-week absence and realized that the chairs were gone.
Nov. 11
Someone carted off sections of aluminum scrap metal, valued at $400, from the 200 block of Ridge Road. The theft was reported at 2:34 p.m. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office sent its criminal investigations unit to check the scene.
If you have information on any of the events posted in this blotter please contact the
Lyndhurst Anonymous Tipline:
201-804-9346
