July 26
At 1:26 p.m., police responded to a home alarm call at a Whitford Ave. location and found the basement door open. After securing the premises, police said they determined that nothing appeared to be disturbed or missing. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and are continuing to investigate.
At 1:52 p.m., an apparent victim of identity theft came to headquarters to report that their accountant, while trying to file for an extension of their tax return, was advised by the IRS that the victim had already filed through E-file system, using their social security number, and that a refund had already been processed.
At 1:04 p.m., a Bloomfield Ave. resident reported that their fence and lock had been damaged, apparently by a motorist who was getting out of a parking space. The damage was estimated at $200, police said.
July 25
At 5:52 p.m., a Raymond Ave. resident called police to report that someone had apparently used a pair of hedge trimmers to remove a heavy duty extension cord to a generator in their garage. The items were valued at about $200, the resident told police.
July 24
A Whitford Ave. resident alerted police to an apparent incident of fraud. The victim told police they’d been contacted by someone purporting to represent a credit card company about a personal loan application they hadn’t applied for. Checking their personal account, the victim told police they found more than $15,000 in unauthorized charges. They also discovered that someone had opened an additional account in their name without their authorization. The victim canceled the account and notified their bank about the charges.
At 1:34 p.m., officers on patrol on Bloomfield Ave. noticed an individual for whom there was an outstanding warrant out of Bloomfield. Police then took into custody Ralph Adubato, 49, of Kearny, and later turned him over to Bloomfield P.D.
At 7:31 a.m., police were called to a Holmes St. location where a resident reported that their vehicle’s front tires, valued at $250, had been slashed overnight.
July 23
At 9:19 p.m., a Passaic Ave. resident reported a home burglary. The resident told police that upon returning home, they found their home ransacked and several items missing.
July 22
A Harrison St. resident called police, at 7:24 p.m., to report that someone had removed two identical ornamental lawn gnomes from their front lawn. Both had red caps, white beards, green coats, brown pants and held mallets, the owner told police. They were valued at $10 each.
At 11:28 a.m., a Walnut St. resident reported the theft of jewelry from their dresser drawer at home. Police said they found no sign of forced entry. Detectives are following up.
At 8:26 a.m., a Centre St. resident came to headquarters to report a theft. The resident told police that they’d just arrived back home from a vacation and, while carrying their belongings inside, noticed that a small black suitcase, containing clothing and shoes, had been taken from behind their car.
July 21
After receiving a complaint about someone parking overnight in a private lot, police arrested Haysam Farrag, 33, of Nutley, on a warrant out of East Rutherford. After posting bail and being advised to contact East Rutherford for a new court date, he was released after being issued several motor vehicle summonses.
July 20
At 9:35 a.m., police were alerted to a burglary to an auto on William St. Nothing was taken from the vehicle but it had been rummaged through, police said. Several leads are being pursued, police said. At 9:42 a.m., police got a report of another vehicle burglarized on the block. They said it had been rummaged through and a GPS unit and change had been taken. Detectives are investigating.
– Ron Leir
