Theft
November 29, 2022 (Bloomfield Avenue): An employee of the Shell Gas Station reported that an unknown person entered the mini mart and stole $135.00 worth of Vape pens. The suspect was located by patrol behind Glenfield School. The employee did not wish to prosecute and the items were returned.
Criminal Mischief
December 2, 2022 (Harrison Avenue): An employee of the Delta Gas Station reported that when he arrived at the station for work, he discovered three glass panes from the garage bay doors had been shattered. In addition, the rear window to a Ford Pickup that was inside the garage was also damaged. The suspect is observed on surveillance throwing rocks through the windows. He was described as wearing a gray or white hooded black jacket, a mask, dark jeans, and khaki boots.
December 3, 2022 (Edgemont Park): A resident reported that while walking through Edgemont Park, she observed graffiti on the children’s playground. There were approximately seven different sections of the playground that were marked with vulgar images and phrases. Among the images was a swastika in black marker. The images and phrases were removed by officers on scene with the assistance of the Department of Public Works. This incident is under investigation. Anyone with information can contact Detective Paul Rusiniak at (973) 509-4776.
Burglary
December 3, 2022 (Woodland Avenue): A representative of HomeCorp stated that they arrived at a property on Woodland Avenue and discovered it had been burglarized. The property was reportedly vacant for approximately three weeks. It appears as though an unknown person(s) had been staying at the property. Multiple desks appeared to have been ransacked. There was discarded food and water. A laptop computer was reported missing.
December 5, 2022 (Club Way): A resident of Club Way reported that he woke up and discovered the front gate to his property was damaged. Upon further inspection, he discovered that a 2018 Ferrari Spider (valued $370,000) as well as a 2021 Lamborghini Urus (valued at $380,000) were missing from the garage. Surveillance footage shows two suspects enter onto the property at approximately 1:30 AM. Entry to the residence appears to have been made through an unlocked side door. Once inside, the suspects located the keys to the vehicles, opened the garage doors, and fled with both cars. The suspects were described as two males, one wearing a dark colored jacket with the hood up, and dark colored pants. It also appears that this suspect may be wearing gloves. The second suspect was wearing dark two-toned coat, a hat with a hood over it, dark in color pants, and a backpack. Anyone with information can contact Detective Steven Mateo at (973) 509-4721.
Motor Vehicle Crime
December 7, 2022 (Wildwood Avenue): The resident reported that his 2022 Audi Q8 was stolen from his driveway between 7:15 AM and 8:15 AM. A witness reported a small white compact vehicle parked in front of the residence. An individual exited the white vehicle, ran to the Audi and entered it. Both vehicles then fled west on Wildwood Avenue. The Audi was recovered the same afternoon on Nye Avenue in Irvington. It was parked in the rear of a building and unoccupied.
Theft
December 9, 2022 (Park Street): The complainant reported that his cell phone and airpods were stolen from the YMCA gym while he was playing basketball. The Apple airpods were valued at $150.00 and were last tracked to Greenwood Avenue in Montclair.
Arrests
December 8, 2022 (Fairview Place): On December 8, 2022 at approximately 2:01 AM, Montclair Police responded to a Fairview Place residence on a report of a motor vehicle theft in progress. The suspects were unable to get the vehicle and fled north on Fairview Place in a white SUV prior to police arrival. The responding officer spoke with the victim and provided a description of the suspects and suspect vehicle to the other patrol units.
Another officer who was patrolling Upper Montclair observed a vehicle matching the description idling on Elston Road. When the officer made a U-Turn, the white SUV fled south on Valley Road. The officer attempted to stop the white SUV, however, the suspect vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed south on Valley Road. A registration check revealed that the suspect vehicle was an Infinity QX6 reported stolen from Roselle, NJ.
Montclair Officers continued to pursue the vehicle through Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, and Newark before the suspect vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of West Market Street and North 6th Street in Newark. Three suspects fled from the vehicle on foot but were apprehended by officers after a short foot pursuit.
Rashaan Hightower (18-year-old male from Newark) was charged with Receiving Stolen Property and Eluding and remanded to the Essex County Jail. The remaining two subjects were juveniles (14-year-old male from Newark and a 17-year-old male from Newark). They were each charged with Receiving Stolen Property and Eluding. The 17-year-old was additionally charged with attempted motor vehicle burglary stemming from the incident on Fairview Place. They were transported to the Essex County Youth House.
One Montclair Officer sustained a laceration to his right eye and hand during the foot pursuit. That officer was treated at Mountainside Hospital. A second Montclair Officer sustained an injury to his hamstring.
Dispute
December 13, 2022 (Maple Plaza): The complainant reported that she was turning into the Maple Plaza Parking lot when a pedestrian she did not see slammed his fists on the hood of her vehicle. The pedestrian then approached the driver’s side and punched the window out. He was described as a white male, 5'7"-5'8" tall, wearing khaki pants and a brown leather jacket. He was last seen walking west on Bloomfield Avenue.
Suspicious Incident
December 17, 2022 (Pine Street): The resident reported that she was on the back balcony of her apartment when she observed two males attempting to enter her neighbor’s vehicle. The resident yelled at the suspects who fled towards Sherman Street. They were described as two tall black males, both with slim builds, both wearing all black with surgical face masks. The suspects were able to open the door to the vehicle but never made entry.
Theft
December 18, 2022 (Bellevue Avenue): An employee of the General Store reported that an unknown female entered the store and stole store merchandise without paying. The suspect was described as an older white female, 5'6” to 5'8” in height, blonde hair and fair skin. She was wearing a white knitted hat, black bubble coat with fur hood and dark sun glasses. She reportedly stole a winter hat.
December 18, 2022 (Bloomfield Avenue): The complainant reported that an individual continuously enters the vestibule to her apartment and steals mail and packages belonging to the residents. The individual can be described as a black male, approximately 5'10"- 6'00” in height, slim build, wearing a red sweatshirt with a large white emblem on the back, dark colored jeans, and red and white sneakers.