Mahwah Man Stole Seats From Dealership's SUV: Police

MAHWAH, N.J. — Police charged a Mahwah man with burglary Monday after they found two seats from a new SUV in his possession after he was seen walking on Ramapo Valley Road dressed in all black.

At about 8 p.m. an anonymous caller reported suspicious activity near 145 Ramapo Valley Road around an area a local car dealer uses to store vehicles, said Chief James Batelli.

Detective Eric Larsen reported seeing a 2001 Chevrolet Impala parked illegally on Church Street and found the vehicle's owner, John J. Yager, 42, walking nearby wearing all black with a hoodie covering his face, Batelli said.

Yager walked away from Larsen after the detective told him to stop, but then stopped when he and other officers spoke with him, the chief said.

After investigating, police found a driver's seat and a passenger's seat and carpeting from the inside of a new 2017 Jeep Wrangler in and near Yager's Chevrolet, Batelli said.

Yager also had burglary tools, hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia on him, Batelli said.

The Police Department's K9 Unit searched the area but did not find any other suspects, the chief said.

Yager was charged with burglary to a vehicle, burglary to a gated lot, theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of hypodermic needles, possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. He was also issued motor vehicles summonses for improper parking and having an open container of alcohol inside a motor vehicle, police said.

Yager was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, Batelli said.

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Photo: John J. Yager, 42 — Mahwah Police Department/Background image via Shutterstock