On Feb. 2, a local bank’s branch manager had alerted Nutley PD that it appeared that someone had placed a skimming device on the ATM just outside the bank near its drive-thru and cops noticed an adhesive residue left on the machine near the slot for inserting the ATM card.
Police now report some consolation in the fact that an investigation by the Centre St. bank “has revealed that no customer’s accounts were compromised.”
No further details were provided by police about the original incident reported by the bank.
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In other developments, between Feb. 14 and 20, Nutley PD said they responded to 17 motor vehicle accidents, four suspicious incidents, 27 medical calls and these incidents:
Feb. 14
After spotting a vehicle with its right rear brake light out on Bloomfield Ave., police pulled over the driver, Kellie Van Pelt, 22, of North Brunswick, who was found to have an active warrant from that municipality. She was arrested on the warrant and ticketed for maintenance of lamps, driving without a license and failure to possess insurance card. After posting bail, she was released pending court dates.
Feb. 15
While patrolling on Kingsland St., police observed a vehicle eastbound with a non-functioning rear left taillight. The driver, Julius Sierra, 18, of Jersey City, was issued summonses for maintenance of lamps and driving while suspended. Police said Sierra also was wanted on warrants from North Bergen. He was turned over to North Bergen PD.
Feb. 16
A fraud victim told police that someone had made four unauthorized charges totaling about $1,000 on their credit card, which, police said, the victim has now canceled.
Feb. 17
A Coeyman Ave. resident reported getting a message on their voicemail from an unknown male saying their taxes were delinquent. Police tried to contact the caller but only got voicemail.
Feb. 18
A theft was reported at the PSE&G electrical yard on Cook Road. A worker told police that when they arrived that morning, they found the main gate locked but the gate to the yard open and a lock and extra chain missing. It was unclear whether anything was missing, police said.
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A homeowner reported the theft of a four-month supply of seizure medication valued at more than $300.
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Two packages were reported stolen from a Washington Ave. resident’s porch. The resident told police that they had made two online purchases but that neither package had been received although they had gotten emails from FedEx and USPS confirming both deliveries. The resident told police that prior packages had been stolen as well.
Feb. 19
Police responded to a Franklin Ave. car wash on a report of damage to a vehicle. The vehicle’s owner told police that after the wash, they noticed their car antenna broken off. Police said the manager assured them that the car wash would pay for any damage to the vehicle.
Feb. 20
While on patrol on Franklin Ave., police said that they saw a black BMW X3 southbound with its passenger side headlamp out and that a computer check of the vehicle’s registration revealed that the owner had a suspended license and three warrants. Police stopped the vehicle at Chestnut and Prospect Sts. The driver, David Echavarria, 38, of Belleville, was arrested on the warrants from Rutherford, Roseland and Hoboken. He was also ticketed for operating while suspended, failure to produce a license and failure to produce a registration card. He was released pending court dates.
– Ron Leir
