Livingston's Finest Solve Robbery at Harrison School

Livingston police used skilled detective work and ingenuity last week to swiftly solve a robbery at  leading to the arrest of two Livingston residents.

Sometime during the night of Dec. 1, someone broke into a classroom trailer at the school by cutting a screen and climbing through an unlocked window. Once inside, the thieves took four digital cameras, an iPod and a violin.

Detective David Fischgrund was searching the Internet for sites selling used items when he came across a listing for a violin matching the description of the stolen instrument.

Fischgrund contacted the seller and discovered she was also selling digital cameras that fit the description of the stolen items.

He then set up a meeting between the seller and a female police officer, who would pose as a mother interested in purchasing one of the cameras for her children. The pair agreed to meet on a Livingston street last Thursday. 

At the meeting, the woman officer matched the serial numbers on the cameras to those of the stolen items and arrest the suspect. 

The suspect, a 16-year-old girl, confessed to the break-in and named an accomplice, 18-year-old Justin Ciccone, also of Livingston.

Both have been charged with burglary, theft of movable property and criminal mischief.

Ciccone’s case has been referred to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, while the girl’s case will be heard in juvenile court.

This is not the first time the girl has had dealings with Livingston police.

“We know who she is,” said Sgt. Anthony Dippold.

In the meantime, the cameras, iPod and violin — which the girl allegedly sold to a local pawnshop — were all recovered and returned.