Leader Of Bergen, Passaic County Burglary Ring Arrested

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. — The man who authorities said ran a criminal enterprise that committed 31 burglaries in two months was arrested Thursday after he and three others were indicted, authorities said.

Kyle Jackson, 45, was arrested in Hasbrouck Heights, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said Friday. The arrest came as the result of an eight-month investigation into the burglaries, Grewal said, after a 39-count indictment that was unsealed Wednesday.

Cash, jewelry, laptops, and televisions were some of the property stolen from the homes; in most cases, the prosecutor said, pillowcases were used to take the stolen items out of the homes.

Artur Kotwica, 23, came up as a person of interest while authorities were investigating and a task force consisting of several police departments in Bergen, Passaic, and Essex counties was created, the prosecutor said.

While watching Kotwica, Shawn Wilder, 28, of Old Bridge, was identified as an associate and co-conspirator, Grewal said. Wilder and Kotwica were arrested in January after committing burglaries in Fair Lawn, Maywood, and Hackensack, according to the prosecutor.

As the investigation continued, authorities discovered Jackson was running a large criminal ring, who allegedly provided Kotwica and Wilder with tools and vehicles to commit the burglaries, the acting prosecutor said. Jackson also took stolen property, including jewelry, to a "fence," who paid him cash for it, which he allegedly shared with Kotwica and Wilder, Grewal said.

The 31 burglaries occurred from Nov. 1, 2015 to Jan. 4, when Wilder and Kotwica were arrested.

The 39 counts including 31 of residential burglary, one count each of racketeering, conspiracy, theft, fencing-dealing in stolen property, and charges related to the theft of a handgun during one of the burglaries, Grewal said.

Kotwica, Wilder, and Jackson were all lodged in the Bergen County Jail, the prosecutor said.

Riad Malki, 45, of Garfield, is pending arraignment on the indictment.

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Kyle Jackson, 45 — Bergen County Prosecutor's Office