The owner of a Franklin Ave. business under construction in Nutley has been a victim of repeated breakins, according to police.
In the initial incident, on Aug. 19, police said the owner arrived at the shop – which is being renovated for the new business – and found the front door open and scaffolding – valued at about $150 – placed outside, missing.
In a subsequent episode, on Aug. 20, the owner told police that a rear steel door had been pried open and that a circular saw, priced at $150, and a Ryobi grinder, priced at $75, had been removed. A witness reported seeing a vehicle parked in front of the store with two males inside at the time of the incident, police said.
In the third case, on Aug. 21, police said that someone tried to pry open the rear door and, in doing so, damaged the dead bolt and the door.
Police said detectives are continuing to investigate.
Police are advising bike owners to lock away their bikes as a precaution in the wake of two cases of bicycle theft from outside locations on Kingsland St. that were reported during the week.
In the first incident, Aug. 19, a Kingsland St. resident reported the theft of their son’s Huffy DS5 mountain bike, black with yellow accents, with white shock covers, valued at $150. Police said the bike was last seen in the rear of the resident’s house.
And, on Aug. 22, another Kingsland St. resident told police their bike was missing when they went outside to get it. They said they’d placed it overnight in the driveway in the rear of their house. It was described as a Huffy mountain bike, blue with purple streaks.
Among other matters listed on the NPD blotter for the past week were these incidents:
Aug. 18
A Warren St. resident reported a computer scam. Police said the resident’s computer was frozen with a screen message demanding that the resident pay $300 through Money Pak to the “Department of Justice” for alleged violations.
A motor vehicle stop, along Washington Ave., resulted in the arrest of Fernando Torres, 20, of Belleville, on charges of possession with intent to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs within 500 feet of a park (Monsignor Owens Park), possession with intent to distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of a school (Washington School), possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Torres was also ticketed on charges of unsafe vehicle, failure to signal turn and possession of drugs in a motor vehicle. He was taken to Essex County Jail on $25,000 bail with no 10% option.
Another motor vehicle stop for alleged speeding, on Rt. 21 North, led to the arrest of Glenn Corrasco- Lopez, 26, of Union City, on active warrants from Union City and Edgewater. The driver was also issued summonses charging him with driving while suspended, failure to exhibit license, failure to exhibit insurance, failure to exhibit registration, expired license, uninsured motor vehicle, careless driving and speeding.
Aug. 19
Police were called to a Passaic Ave. location on a report of illegal dumping. Police said they found 10 black garbage bags filled with rock and cement on the property line at Friedland Road. A canvas of neighbors to learn the source was unsuccessful, police said. DPW was alerted to remove the debris.
A resident reported the theft of about $16,000 worth of assorted jewelry from their home during the last two and a half weeks. Detectives are following up. The resident’s location wasn’t disclosed by police.
Someone removed a stone bearing a Coeyman Ave. resident’s house number from the resident’s front lawn. Police searched the area but came up empty.
Aug. 20
An apparent identity theft victim told police that someone had charged several California-based transactions totaling $4,600, dating from April, to their PayPal account, all of which were unauthorized. The victim was entered in a regional database as an ID theft victim, police said.
A Howe Ave. resident reported being the recipient of multiple annoying phone calls during the past few weeks from the same Ontario phone exchange where the caller – who refers to the resident by their first name – is continually requesting remote access to the resident’s computer.
Aug. 21
Another identity theft victim reported that two credit cards – one from Capital One bank that has since been canceled and the other, unknown – were opened in their name. That victim has been entered in the national data base for ID theft, police said.
– Ron Leir
