ROBBERIES, THEFTS FROM AUTOS AND BURGLARY MARK WEEK

This just issued from Maplewood Police:

Maplewood Police Department

Press Release

November 21, 2011

November 15, 2011: Robbery. On 11/15/11 at approximately 3:42 pm, a sixteen year old male reported that an unknown male assaulted him and took his cell phone. The victim reported that while walking west on Parker Ave. near Lancaster Ave., he was approached by 5 or 6 males. One of the suspects, described as a black male, 16-17 years old, 5’8 tall, thin build and wearing a light blue windbreaker and blue jeans, asked him if he had a cell phone before punching him in the face. The other 5 males then began punching and kicking him before one of the males reached into his pocket and removed his Droid 3 cell phone. The victim refused medical attention.

November 15, 2011: Robbery (Arrest). On 11/15/11 at approximately 7:15 pm, two juvenile Township residents reported that they were robbed near the intersections of Boyden Ave. and Hughes St. They reported that they were approached by two suspects, and one stated “Don’t run, I’m strapped”. The suspects proceeded to take an Apple laptop computer from one of the victims before fleeing down Hughes St. towards Seth Boyden School. Responding to the call, Maplewood Police Officer Michael Bertone observed a suspect matching the broadcast suspect description on Boyden Ave., however the suspect began to flee on foot. After a foot chase, Officer Bertone apprehended the suspect in the rear of Seth Boyden School. The suspect was identified as Eli Joseph, 18, of 738 Stuyvesant Ave., Irvington, NJ. He was positively identified by the victims, and arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing.

November 16, 2011: Burglary. On 11/16/11 at approximately 7:13 pm, a Summit Ave. resident reported that her home had been burglarized between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. The suspect(s) apparently gained entry by breaking out a small window pane on the back door and removed jewelry from the residence.

November 20, 2011: Theft from Auto. On 11/20/11, an Elmwood Ave. resident reported that unknown suspect(s) had entered an unlocked vehicle overnight and removed a wallet containing credit cards and other documents from within. Several of the documents were recovered nearby.

November 20, 2011: Theft from Auto. On 11/20/11, a Baldwin Rd. resident reported that unknown suspect(s) had entered an unlocked vehicle overnight and removed a GPS unit from within.