Nov. 16
The owner of a white Fuso box truck told police someone removed a battery from the truck while it was parked in a Robert St. driveway, between 7 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 16.
Her car wouldn’t start so she called a mechanic, a Hillside Ave. resident told police. When the mechanic couldn’t fi x it, the owner said she left it parked on the street. That was on Nov. 10, she said. When she returned to try to start it shortly after midnight on Nov. 16, it was gone. Police surmise it was stolen.
Nov. 15
A Good Samaritan loaned a $35 tire wrench to the owner of a disabled vehicle at Ohlson and Highland Aves. but the owner failed to return the tool. So reported the wrench-less Samaritan to police at 1:46 p.m.
A local car owner told police they had their vehicle towed to a Bloomfi eld Ave. maintenance shop and, upon returning to the shop the next day, noticed that the license plates were gone. The incident was logged at 12:56 p.m.
Nov. 13
A motorist who parked on Harrison St. for 45 minutes came back at 6:30 p.m. to fi nd the windshield smashed in two places and a cement block on the road just in front of the car, the victim told police. Police said it’s possible the block may have fallen from a passing construction vehicle onto the car.
Police and fire units responded to a car fi re on Harrison St. at 12:13 p.m. where they found a black 2000 Pontiac’s front end engulfed in fl ames. Police said the vehicle’s hood was badly damaged and its front end received heavy water damage. Police said the driver’s side window was damaged so that items inside could be removed. The owner was at the scene during the fi re which was put out by firefighters.
An out-of-town woman allegedly tried to cash a forged check at a River Road bank at 11:32 a.m., police said. Greta Crosell, 50, of Newark, told police she was asked by another party to cash the check and, in return, she’d get half of the amount of the check. Police charged Crosell with forgery and released her pending a court date.
A River Road resident told police they were in their basement at 9:57 a.m. when they heard someone talking and thought it was their brother. Then, the resident told police, a black man, clean-shaven, dressed in black and wearing orange gloves peeked around the corner and looked at the resident who grabbed a pair of scissors and yelled at the stranger to get out but then saw another black man, also dressed in black, leaving the residence and both intruders ran away. Police said neighbors saw men fitting the description fleeing the area. Police said it appeared that the doors were unlocked and that there was no sign of forced entry. Police searched the area but couldn’t find anyone.
Nov. 12
Occupants of a Park Ave. office called police at 5:10 p.m. to complain about leaves being placed at the curb. Police advised the property owners of the proper way to dispose of leaves in the township.
Nov. 10
A Ridge Road resident alerted police to someone having tried to break in by slicing a window screen on the north side of the building. A check of the residence showed no other damage, police said.
The owner of a 2001 Lexus notifi ed police at 9:58 a.m. that an unknown vehicle struck her vehicle while it was parked on Franklin Ave. and then fl ed northbound on Franklin. Police checked the area but couldn’t fi nd the suspect vehicle.
Police were called to Washington Ave. by Belleville P.D. at 2:06 a.m. in connection with an auto that had just fl ed the scene of an accident. Nutley P.D. began pursuing the suspect vehicle at Washington and Grant aves. Police said the driver picked up speed and began turning up side streets to get away from the officers. After several minutes, police said the driver stopped but refused to leave the vehicle. Ultimately, the driver, Lauren Fletcher, 28, of Newark, was issued summonses charging her with eluding, speeding and reckless driving and was released pending a court appearance.
A motor vehicle reported stolen from a Margaret Ave. residence at 2 a.m. was unlocked at the time and no alarm was activated, police said. The vehicle was later recovered by Nutley P.D.
– Ron Leir
