Fair Lawn Package Thief Nabbed After Foot Chase, Police Say

A Paterson man was arrested after he allegedly took a package from a Hartley Place home Christmas Eve, police said.

Sgt. Brian Metzler said several Fair Lawn police officers responded to Hartley Place and Rosalie Street on a report of a man on a bicycle who took a delivered package from the front of a residence.

Officer Luke Hintzen found the man, Carmito Lugo, 34, of Paterson, on Broadway at 29th Street, where he ran away from Hintzen, police said.

Officer MIchael Franco found Lugo on Broadway at 26th Street and arrested him, Metzler said.

Lugo dropped the package he found at the Hartley Place residence; police also found another package and four pairs of jeans worth $184 from Kmart in Lugo’s backpack, Metzler said.

A teddy bear and a mattress topper were the items delivered to the Hartley Place home, police said.

Lugo was charged with two counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $1,000 and Lugo was sent to the Bergen County Jail.