Centenary Student Stages Own Theft to Cover Stealing Roommate's Money, Cops Say

A Centenary College student reported he had items stolen from his dorm room to cover up that he allegedly stole money from his roommate, Hackettstown Police said.

Police responded to the Reeves Dormitory for a report of theft just after 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, Sgt. Darren Tynan said. When officers arrived, two students told police their dorm was burglarized, Tynan said.

One student said he had money stolen from his Beat Box Case, and the other student, later identified as Keiji Villalona, 18, of Paterson, reported having his laptop and sneakers stolen, Tynan said.

An investigation revealed Villalona actually staged the burglary of the laptop and sneakers to cover up for being the alleged thief of his roommate’s money, Tynan said.

Villalona was charged with theft of moveable property and filing a fictitious police report. He was released pending a court appearance.