Hoboken Hit With Wave Of Pre-Holiday Package Thefts: Police

HOBOKEN, NJ — As the holiday gift season ramps up, Hoboken police report that officers have made a series of recent package theft-related arrests.

According to the Hoboken Police Department, officers charged Daniel Sosa, 29, of Jersey City, with three counts of burglary after arresting him on Sunday in connection with a series of alleged thefts in the city.

An off-duty Hoboken officer allegedly saw Sosa around 4:40 p.m. and identified him as a person of interest in connection with the thefts. When the officer witnessed the Jersey City resident steal multiple packages from a local residence, he arrested Sosa, finding him in possession of a knife allegedly used as a tool to commit the burglaries, police said.

Police charged Sosa with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. He was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility (HCCF) and given a bail of $55,000 with a 10 percent option.

JACKSON STREET ARREST

Hoboken police made another package theft-related arrest on Wednesday in connection with an alleged burglary that took place earlier this month.

Hoboken police say that Jose Lopez, a 54-year-old homeless man, allegedly entered a local resident’s home and took multiple packages on Nov. 4. After conducting an investigation, police connected Lopez with the alleged theft and arrested him at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday on the 300 block of Jackson Street.

Authorities charged Lopez with burglary and theft. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Sayreville for $285. He was transported to the HCCF and assigned a bail of $26,285 with a 10 percent option.

JEFFERSON STREET ARREST

Hoboken police made another package theft-related arrest on Wednesday after a detective allegedly observed a local man enter a Jefferson Street apartment building and emerge with a bag containing stolen items.

Aware that David Diaz, 33, of Hoboken, wasn’t a resident of the building, the detective investigated further and saw several “ripped packages” inside, police said.

Back up officers arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and confronted Diaz while he was still inside the building. At the time of the arrest, Diaz had a bag containing allegedly stolen items and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke narcotics, and also had an open municipal warrant for $200, police stated.

Diaz was transported to the HCCF and assigned a bail of $40,000 with a 10 percent option.

• See related article: Tips to Prevent Package Theft During Holiday 2016 Shopping Season

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