Berkeley Man Charged In Jewelry Thefts From Elderly In Wayne: PD

WAYNE, NJ — A Berkeley Township man has been charged with theft in connection with jewelry taken from two elderly Wayne residents, police said.

Michael Bartley, 41, of Bayville, was charged with theft, Wayne police said. He is being held at the Passaic County Jail.

Two women at a residential complex on Feb. 4 contacted police to report missing jewelry, police said. One said a gold ring was missing from her bedroom; the other said a gold necklace had been taken from her bedroom, police said.

Investigators learned the fire alarms in the complex were undergoing maintenance, and Wayne Police Detectives Mark Ciavirella and Adrian Sulejmani determined the same contractor, Bartley, had gone into both women's homes, specifically the bedrooms where the fire alarms were located.

Bartley was questioned and admitted to stealing the jewelry, police said.

Wayne police have recovered the necklace and said the ring was in the process of being recovered. Both will be returned to their owners, police said.

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