Porch Pirates, Driving While Intoxicated Arrests Reported In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Porch pirates, driving while intoxicated arrests, and more were reported during October in Basking Ridge.

Bernards Township Police blotter for October:

During the above timeframe, Bernards Township Police Department officers responded to 26 motor vehicle crashes. There were four injuries reported and eight motor vehicle summonses issued.

On Oct. 1: Cpl. Slawomir Zolnierowski initiated a motor vehicle stop and arrested Isaiah Williams of Paterson after it was determined that he had a suspended license and an outstanding ATS warrant from Watchung Municipal Court for $550.00. Williams was able to post the cash bail, was released, and given a new court date.

On Oct. 2: A resident of Hansom Road reported an unknown individual stole a package containing an Apple Laptop from their front porch. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 6: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Santa Ana, CA contacted the Bernards Township Police Department regarding a fraudulent bank activity report they took from one of their residents. An unknown actor has made multiple withdrawals from the victim’s bank account while using the Bank of America branch in Basking Ridge. The Detective Bureau is currently investigating the incident.

On Oct. 8: Officer Bryson Buchanan initiated a motor vehicle stop and arrested the driver, Cristian Cortesmunoz, for an active ATS warrant from Kenilworth Municipal Court. Cortesmunoz was provided with a new court date and released on his recognizance.

On Oct. 8: Officer Tyler Widitz responded to the Walgreens located in the Hills Shopping Center for a welfare check on a man who appeared disoriented near a vehicle. After investigating Widitz determined that the man, identified as Raghavan Halthore of Basking Ridge, was intoxicated while operating his motor vehicle. The man was placed under arrest and issued multiple summonses and later released.

On Oct. 10: A resident of Fellowship Village reported the theft of $59,536 worth of jewelry. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 10: A resident from Lake Road reported a Macbook was stolen from their porch after it was delivered by UPS. Security cameras captured an unknown black man exiting a black Honda Civic and running towards the victim’s front door, grabbing the package containing the MacBook, and running back to the waiting vehicle. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 11: Officer Kyle McCartney initiated a motor vehicle stop and arrested Robin Locker of Bridgewater, after it was determined that she was operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Locker was issued multiple summonses and released.

On Oct. 12: The Martinsville Exxon reported an unknown person used a counterfeit $50 bill to obtain $20.11 worth of gasoline. The Detective Bureau is currently investigating the incident.

On Oct. 16: Officer Will Krajicek initiated a motor vehicle stop and arrested Sarah Jeffries-Fox of Basking Ridge for driving while intoxicated. Jeffries-Fox was processed and released pending a future court date.

On Oct. 17: A resident from West Oak Street reported sthat everal checks they had written and mailed were intercepted by an unknown person and altered to make payment to the suspect. The Detective Bureau is currently investigating the incident.

On Oct. 20: A resident from Castle Way reported that approximately $1,000 in cash was taken from a wallet inside the residence. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 21: A resident from Douglas Road reported hiring a contractor to perform work in August, the contractor received payment for the work, but never showed up to perform the actual work. The Detective Bureau is currently investigating the incident.

On Oct. 23: A resident of Fellowship Village reported having a replacement credit card intercepted from the mail and used fraudulently by unknown people. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 24: Patrol responded to the Olde Mill Inn for a report of a theft from the bridal suite. Several items totaling $980 were taken from the victims. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 29: A resident of Wellington Drive reported their HELOC through Affinity Credit Union was compromised and $131,381.89 was withdrawn from the account by an unknown actor. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 29: A resident from Decker Street reported a business email scam, which resulted in a $27,513.51 loss. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

On Oct. 29: The Detective Bureau executed a search warrant and arrested Teresa Soraluz of Dover, because of an investigation in which a resident in town reported the theft of around $235,000 worth of luxury clothing items, purses, shoes, and jewelry. As a result of the search warrant around $150,000 worth of items that belonged to the victim were retrieved from Soraluz’s home. Soraluz was charged with second-degree theft and taken to the Somerset/Morris County Jail pending a future a court date.

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