March 2025

Theft

February 26, 2025 (Valley Road): A male individual entered the Kings supermarket. The individual proceeded to walk to the meat department within the store. The individual then selected fifteen different meat items and placed them in his reusable shopping bag. The individual then exited the store via the north side entrance door. Surveillance footage depicted the suspect as 5'06”-5'07” in height and weighing 190 lbs. He was wearing a black hat, black jacket, tan sweatshirt, and black pants. The male had no facial hair and was said to be Hispanic. He fled with $345.81 worth of meat.

Motor Vehicle Crime

February 26, 2025 (Mount Hebron Road): A 2022 Honda CRV was stolen from a driveway on Mount Hebron Road. The owner reported that he was awoken by noise outside and subsequently observed two males in dark clothing in his vehicle. It was last seen fleeing north on Valley Road. The vehicle was located, abandoned, approximately one hour later in Paterson.

March 1, 2025 (Grenada Place): A 2023 Hyundai Elantra was stolen from outside of a Grenada Place residence. The owner reported that she briefly left the vehicle running and when she returned, she observed a male in the driver’s seat pulling away west on Grenada Place. It was recovered the following day in Union, NJ.

March 2, 2025 (Elm Street): The driver of a 2023 Mazda CX reported that he pulled up to Noches de Columbia to pick up a food order and left his vehicle running. When he returned, he discovered that his vehicle was gone. It was recovered the following day in Newark.

Smash and Grab Burglaries

February 28 - March 2, 2025 (Various): Over the weekend, the Montclair Police Department responded to multiple “smash and grab” type burglaries to businesses in town.

On February 28, 2025, officers responded to The Chicken and Shawarma on Bloomfield Avenue. A civilian reported that while walking past the restaurant, they observed the front glass door had been shattered. Surveillance footage shows the burglary occurred at approximately 5:45 AM. The suspect, wearing a black puffy jacket with black sneakers, black pants, and a mask enters the store and leaves with the cash register which contained approximately $210.00.

On March 2, 2025, Officers responded to Marcel Bakery and Kitchen on Valley Road. The owner reported that one of his workers arrived to the business at 5:00 AM and discovered the front door had been pried open with a crowbar. A cash drawer containing $150.00 was stolen.

Later in day, Officers responded to Juniper Yoga and Fitness on Bellevue Avenue. There, they discovered that the front door had been damaged. The deadbolt was still intact, and entry was not gained by the suspect.

Later that same day, Toro Sushi in Upper Montclair Plaza reported that their front glass door had been shattered. Between $200-$300 was removed from the cash drawer. The pictured subject below is a person of interest in these incidents.

Burglary 

March 5, 2025 (Beverly Road): The resident reported that when he woke he discovered that his 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC was missing from his driveway. He also discovered that a rear side door was unsecured. It is believed that the resident unintentionally left the door open after taking the trash out the previous night. Surveillance footage shows that the suspects arrived at the residence at approximately 4:50AM in an unknown vehicle. The suspects made entry into the home and located the keys to the Mercedes that were kept in a bowl in the kitchen. Newark Police recovered the vehicle on Howard Court later in the day.

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 9, 2025 (Maple Avenue): The complainant reported that he parked his 2018 Mercedes C300 in front of Tommy’s Laundromat. He entered the laundromat to pick up his clothing. When he returned his vehicle was gone. The vehicle was recovered on Ridge Street in Newark a few hours later.

Indecent Exposure

March 10, 2025 (Church Street): The victim reported that she was driving down Church Street looking for a parking space when they observed a male standing on the sidewalk exposing his genitals. The male was described as a tall white male with a thin build, wearing a black skull cap, light blue shirt, black pants, black and white sneakers as well as carrying a black and red draw string style backpack. He was last seen walking through the alleyway on Church Street towards The Crescent Deck.

Arrest

March 8, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 35-year-old male from Verona was charged with Defiant Trespass for refusing to leave Fujiya Ramen after being requested to do so multiple times.

Burglary / Attempted Burglary 

March 14, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): At approximately 4:54 AM, Officers responded to an activated burglar alarm at The Connect Clothing Sore. Officers arrived and observed a front windowpane had been shattered. Surveillance footage shows the suspect approaching the storefront with a yellow crowbar and using it to repeatedly strike the front window glass pane of the business, causing it to shatter. It was at this time the alarm to the business was activated subsequently causing the suspect to flee north bound across Broomfield Avenue. The suspect was unable to enter the store.

March 14, 2025 (Lackawanna Plaza): Officers responded to Genevieve's Exclusive Vintage Collection on a report of a shattered front window. Surveillance video shows the suspect arrive at the store at approximately 3:00 AM. The suspect is described as a light skinned (unknown race) male suspect wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, and a black mask covering most of his face. The suspect utilized a yellow crowbar to break the glass and make entry. An employee on scene at the time of the report estimated that the suspect was able to take over $20,000 worth of merchandise

Arrests

March 16, 2025 (Valley Road): A 55-year-old female from Newark was charged with Shoplifting from Acme on Valley Road.

March 17, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): At approximately 8:30 PM, East Orange Police alerted Montclair Police that they were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle and were entering Montclair. The vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, was pursued but became disabled in the area of Gates Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue where the suspects fled. Three juveniles from East Orange were apprehended in the parking lot of 292 Bloomfield Avenue. A fourth juvenile, a 13-year-old male from East Orange, was located hiding in the bushes of a residence on Union Street. All four juveniles were turned over to the East Orange Police Department.

Burglary / Attempted Burglary

March 23, 2025 (Central Avenue): The residents reported that they were away from their home between 11:30 AM and 3:15 PM. When they returned, they discovered that a window panel near their front door handle had been broken. A deadbolt lock was still intact preventing the suspect from making entry.

March 23, 2025 (Wildwood Avenue): The residents reported that the bottom portion of a ground level window was damaged. There were marks on the windowsill, consistent with someone attempting to force the window open with a crowbar. There were two locked high-end vehicles in the driveway, suggesting the suspect(s) were attempting to search the residence for the keys.

Theft

March 21, 2025 (Valley Road): Management at Acme reported that they were monitoring surveillance cameras when they observed two individuals actively shoplifting. One of the suspects was described as a black male wearing a full gray sweat suit. The second suspect was described as a black male wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. Management stated that the male wearing the black sweatshirt was in the store with his shopping cart full of an assortment of grocery items. The male wearing the gray sweat suit came to the front door, to hold the automatic door open. It was at this time that both individuals proceeded outside with the full cart without making payment. They were observed placing the items in a gray 2014 Dodge Avenger with temporary registration last seen southbound on Valley Road. Proceeds were $273.00 in groceries.

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 25, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): The victim reported that he parked his 2015 Acura MDX in front of the Exxon Gas Station. The vehicle was left running while the victim entered the mart. While inside of the store he observed a tall black male, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue navy pants exiting a white Audi sedan and getting into his Acura. The two vehicles were last seen in tandem, eastbound on Bloomfield Avenue. Bloomfield PD reported the vehicles were seen south into East Orange.

March 25, 2025 (Ward Place): Officers on patrol encountered a 2023 Bentley Bentayga parked and unoccupied on Ward Place. A check of the vehicle’s registration revealed it was a stolen vehicle out of Greenberg, New York. The vehicle was towed to Montclair Police Headquarters so it could be processed by Greenberg Police.

Arrest

March 20, 2025 (Church Street): A 26-year-old female from Montclair was charged with Defiant Trespass on Church Street.

Vandalism

March 26, 2025 (North Fullerton Avenue): Township employees reported three separate cases of vandalism at the North Fullerton Parking Deck. The suspect is described as a white male, between 15 and 25 years old, with a medium build, and shoulder length dark hair. The suspect is seen on surveillance using red spray paint to deface windows in the stairwell of the parking deck as well as the upper levels.

Arrests

March 28, 2025 (South Park Street): Officers responded to South Park Street on a report of a male harassing pedestrians. He was observed removing his shirt and pants. The male, a 37-yearold resident of Newark, NJ was charged with Lewdness.