ARREST OF ROBBERY SUSPECTS, BUT OTHER THEFTS AND BURGLARY

This just released from Maplewood Police:

Maplewood Police Department

Press Release

January 10, 2012

January 1, 2012: Theft. On 1/01/12, an Elmwood Avenue resident reported the theft of several items from his home subsequent to a house party held the evening before. The items missing included two IPOD Touch MP3 players, a Macbook laptop computer and a 2003 Honda Insight vehicle apparently taken with keys that had been located in the residence. The vehicle was eventually located on 1/3/12 by Irvington Police.

January 3, 2012: Theft from Vehicle. On 1/03/12, a Demarest resident reported the theft of several items from his vehicle which had been parked on Hudson Avenue on 1/1/12 between the times of 3:00 am and 9:00 am.  The items reported missing included a Macbook Pro laptop computer valued at $1800.00.

January 3, 2012: Theft from Vehicle. On 1/03/12, a Lancaster Avenue resident reported the theft of $10.00- $15.00 of change from his vehicle which had been parked between 12/29/11 and 12/30/11.

January 3, 2012: Burglary. On 1/03/12, a Franklin Terrace resident reported that a burglary had occurred to his apartment between the morning of 1/1/12 and 1/2/12 at approximately 9:00 am. Suspect(s) apparently pushed in an unsecured air conditioning unit to gain access to the apartment before removing a Dynes 32” flat screen television and an Xbox gaming system.

January 6, 2012: Robbery (Arrests Made). On 1/6/12, a juvenile reported he was walking home from Columbia High School south on Prospect St. on the west side of the road at approximately 3:00 pm.  The juvenile reported that an unknown person tapped him on his shoulder from behind, and stated "what time is it." The victim took his I-Pod out of his jacket pocket, and advised the subject it was 3:07 pm. At this point, the subject grabbed the I-Pod causing the I-Pod to be separated from the headphones. The victim reported the subject then grabbed his headphones to remove them from his head, however the victim still had one end in an attempt to not let them go. 

While this was occurring, a second subject approached the victim from behind and stated "let it go."  Subject 1 then stated "Punch him in the face" to subject 2 (no punches were thrown). The victim let the headphones go, and could feel subject 2 going through his left pants pocket. Ultimately, headphones, a black LG cell phone and between $57 and $60 dollars in cash were removed from the victim.

Soon afterwards, Det. Lenzo and Det. Oakes stopped two subjects fitting the description provided by the victim at the intersection of Clinton Ave. and Florence Ave. in Irvington.  The victim subsequently positively identified both suspects.  The suspects also had in their possessions proceeds to the crime.  Both juvenile suspects were taken into custody.

January 9, 2012: On 1/9/12, at 6:46 pm officers responded to a Chancellor Ave., apartment on report of a burglary.  The tenant stated on this date, between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, her Toshiba laptop computer disappeared from her bed and the power cord was left, still plugged into the wall. There were also two jewelry boxes, located next to the bed, which appear to be undisturbed. The victim further stated the front door to the building was unsecured when she returned home and she thought her apartment door had pry marks on it.