Fugitive Wanted in Many Oak Park Burglaries Arrested in New Jersey

By MICHELLE SAHN (Patch Staff)

Two suspicious men knocking on doors in a New Jersey town led police to a Chicago man wanted in two states for at least 80 burglaries, according to police.

Oak Park police told Holmdel, NJ, police they have been looking for Marek Danielewicz for more than a year.

Officers also arrested a second man who had been wanted since 2006 by federal immigration authorities, police said.

Danielewicz, 36, and David Packowski, 28, whose last known addresses were in Chicago, were arrested around 4 p.m. Friday in Holmdel after police received a 911 call from a concerned resident who said two men were knocking on doors.

When officers arrived in the neighborhood, they stopped the men, who gave police fake names and identification from Canada and Poland. But neither man could explain why they were in the neighborhood and the stories they told contradicted each other.

After fingerprinting them, police determined their true identities.

Police also realized Danielewicz was wanted in California and Illinois for more than 80 burglaries. Oak Park police will begin extradition proceedings.

Police also determined Packowski had been wanted since 2006 by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for removal from the country.

Both men were charged in Holmdel with hindering apprehension and providing false government documents.