Nutley’s Police Chief is warning residents to be aware of ATM skimmers that can steal a person’s ATM card information and transfer it on to another credit card for illegal use.
On Feb. 18, the NPD said it received a report of a fraudulent withdrawal from a resident’s savings account. The resident said he learned of the withdrawal after he tried to take out $20 at an ATM machine and was told he was over his daily maximum withdrawal allowance.
Police said the victim’s bank told him someone had withdrawn the money at a CitiBank in Queens.
Though one wasn’t found, the resident said he believed there may have been a skimming device on an ATM machine at a local 7-Eleven, police said.
Chief Thomas Strumolo said there have been reports statewide of ATM skimmers, which are placed over the actual ATM card slot — leading to the theft of sensitive personal information.
“This device is difficult to spot,” the chief said. “However, it may be loose-fitting or block part of the actual machine. If there is concern, notify a store [or bank] manager and police.”
Strumolo also continues to remind residents to keep their cars locked at all times.
Over the last few months, more than 20 thefts from unlocked cars have occurred throughout the township.
Meanwhile, the NPD released the following reports of incidents that took place between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19:
Feb. 13
Wallace Ramirez Jr., 23, of Belleville, was arrested on Union Ave. on an outstanding Kearny warrant. Police learned Ramirez was wanted after a motor-vehicle stop. Wallace was issued tickets charging him with driving while suspended, driving an uninsured vehicle and speeding. Kearny police released Ramirez on his own recognizance, pending a new court date.
Feb. 16
Police arrested David O’Connor, 59, a homeless man, after they spoke with him in a municipal parking lot and discovered he was wanted by the Belleville Police Department. O’Connor was released on his own recognizance.
Feb. 17
• Michael Pietoso, 37, of Nutley, was arrested on Franklin Ave. after a restaurant employee said he left the eatery without paying his bill. Pietoso was charged with theft of services and released on his own recognizance, pending court.
• A field interview of two men resulted in the arrest of Terrence Douglas, 47, of Newark, and Joseph Kaplan, 35, of Nutley. Kaplan was found to have two outstanding warrants out of Nutley and Jersey City. Both jurisdictions released him on his own recognizance with new court dates.
Douglas was found to have two outstanding warrants out of Newark and while conducting a search incident to his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a glass pipe packed with copper wool, a burnt end (used to smoke crack/cocaine) and one glassine fold, the contents of which tested positive for heroin.
He was charged with hindering apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of CDS. He was released on his own recognizance from the Nutley charges with his court date, but was later transferred into the custody of the Newark PD on the warrants.
Feb. 18
• Angel Alvarado, 29, of Kearny, was arrested after being pulled over on Rt. 21 on an outstanding Union City warrant. Alvarado was released after posting bail on the Union City warrant, but not after he was charged by the NPD with hindering his own apprehension by providing false information to a law enforcement officer and after getting tickets charging him with driving while suspended, being an unlicensed driver, failure to exhibit a driver’s license, failure to inspect a vehicle and careless driving.
• William Spano, 52, of Montclair, was arrested on Harrison St. on an outstanding North Arlington warrant after police responded to a suspicious person call. When police arrived, the found Spano and later learned of the warrant. Spano was released on his own recognizance, pending court.
• Thomas Fletcher, 34, of Belleville, was arrested after being pulled over on Crestwood Ave. and charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hypodermic needles. After the arrest, police learned Fletcher was wanted by the Haledon PD. Fletcher was able to post bail on the Haledon warrant and was released on his own recognizance on the Nutley charges, pending court.
Feb. 19
Steven Nemec, 22, of Nutley, was arrested on Centre St. on an outstanding Nutley warrant after police on patrol who knew he was wanted spotted him. Nemec was released on his own recognizance after getting a new court date.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.