More Home Break-Ins in College Hill Neighborhood

Update: Captain Paul Conlon responded to our question of whether Maplewood Police were investigating the two home burglaries in "College Hill" this past week—and other similar break-ins this summer—as related. His response: "There are some similarities to the burglaries in that the actors are entering unlocked first floor windows and similar items are being taken, but there is nothing more concrete to say that they are all commited by the same person or persons. Our Detectives will always compare our active investigations to develop any paterns or similarities that will help them identify suspects or solve the crimes."

Conlon also responded to a question about the three juveniles who were arrested this past week for breaking into a garage in the College Hill neighborhood. Patch wanted to know if they were suspects in the home burglaries. Conlon's response: "Although we could not connect the three juveniles to any of our crimes in Maplewood, we were able to assist Union Police with an invetsigation in thier town." Conlon noted that Maplewood Police "work very well with the towns surrounding us and share information on a regular basis."

Over the weekend, Patch received emails from neighbors in the College Hill area (north of Springfield Avenue and west of the Hilton Branch of the library) reporting home burglaries. One resident on Wellesley Road reported that burglars entered her neighbor's home "through a barely cracked window." The screen window was slit and, "Police said it was textbook in terms of recent rash of break-ins." Apparently, the family was even at home at the time of the break-in. The weekly police blotter details the crime below. We have emailed Capt. Conlon to ask if Maplewood Police are investigating the various break-ins in the neighborhood as possibly related crimes.

This week's Maplewood Police blotter comes to us courtesy of Captain Paul Conlon:

July 20, 2010: Disorderly Conduct Arrest- Patrols responded to the Hilton Branch Library on Springfield Ave at 4:20 pm on a report of a man sleeping inside the reference room. The Officers located Christoph Smith, 39, of Oakland Tr., Irvington, NJ, who became loud and aggressive towards the officers. Mr. Smith was subsequently arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct. 

July 21, 2010: Theft from Auto- A Rynda Road resident reported that an unknown actor entered into her unlocked Hyundai that was parked in her driveway and removed a Belltronics Radar Detector from inside the vehicle.  The incident occurred sometime during the overnight hours.

July 21, 2010: Burglary- At approximately 9:20 pm, an Amherst Court resident notified Police of a past tense burglary that is believed to have occurred between 11:30 pm on July 20 and 5:30 am on the July 21.  The actor entered the home through an unlocked kitchen window and removed a backpack containing some personal identification, a Dell lap top computer, and some keys. Also taken was a red Vintage Town Bike.

July 21, 2010: Burglary Arrest- At approximately 6:50 pm Sgt. Cross was patrolling in the area of Springfield Ave and Prospect St when he observed a man riding a pink bicycle and carrying a flat screen television. As the Sergeant conducted a field interview with the man the owner of a Springfield Ave business called Police to report a Burglary to his office and indicated that a flat screen TV was taken.  Sgt. Cross determined that the television the man was carrying was just stolen from the business on Springfield Ave. and arrested Jason D. Toomer, 23, of Lyons Ave., Irvington, NJ.  Mr. Toomer was charged with Possession of Burglary Tools, Burglary, Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, and Hindering Apprehension/False Information.   

July 22, 2010: Burglary- A Wellesley Road resident reported to the Police that sometime between July 20 and July 22 an unknown actor entered into her home through a first floor window and removed several items from the first floor. The items consisted of a white Apple notebook computer in a lime green carry bag and a Sony DVD player.

July 22, 2010: Theft Arrest-An alert Rutgers Street resident called Police to report he observed three black male juveniles walking in his neighbor's driveway towards the garage.  A few minutes later the same teenagers were seen leaving the neighbors property with two bikes. After supplying the Police with a complete description of the actors, Officers were able to locate the three subjects on Burnett Ave near Lombardy Pl still in possession of the stolen bikes.  The three arrested juveniles, ages 15, 16, and 17, were from Irvington and were charged with the theft of the bicycles.