Nutley Teen Stole 30 Religious Statues and Lawn Ornaments, Tried To Sell On Internet: Police

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police have charged a local 19-year-old man with stealing almost 30 religious statues and lawn ornaments in town and trying to sell them on the internet.

According to the Nutley Police Department, officers arrested Andrew Lewis of Nutley on Wednesday after being contacted by an anonymous party that was about to purchase a religious statue off the website OfferUpNow.com. Police said that the caller recalled seeing previously released information about a series of thefts in the township, which raised their suspicions.

• See related article: Stealing St. Anthony: Religious Statue Theft Wave Hits Nutley
• See related article: Nutley Cops Release Photo Of Suspected Religious Statue Thief

After conducting an investigation, Nutley police learned that Lewis allegedly had dozens of items posted for sale, “most of which were still on residents’ lawns.”

Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco said that “although petty in comparison with crimes being committed every day,” the volume of victims in this instance was enough to develop an operational plan and address concerns.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said that after his arrest, Lewis was “cooperative and remorseful,” and that the teen is cooperating with police in neighboring jurisdictions regarding items stolen along the Nutley border.

Police said that the allegedly stolen items include:

• Manhattan Ct -Mary/Jesus statue
• Coppola - Weber Grill
• Centre St - Virgin Mary
• Union Ave – Mother Theresa
• Woodland Ave – Milk can
• Church St – Vase
• Evergreen – Lion statue
• Franklin Ave – Virgin Mary
• Oakridge Ave – Virgin Mary
• Chase St – Saint Anthony
• Speer – bench flower pot
• Woodland Ave – wicker patio furniture
• Stager St – wicker patio furniture
• Ackerman St – Bicycle flower pot
• Race St - Mother Theresa
• Cross St – Madonna
• 60 Manhattan Ct -Wicker Furniture

Photos: Nutley Police Department