Police Arrest Intruder in Maplewood Home

What could have been a home invasion incident ended safely for two residents inside a home on Van Ness Terrace, according to police.

When they woke up to hear noises coming from the third floor of their home, they called 911 and left the house, said Sgt. Christopher Black from the Maplewood Police Dept.

When police arrived, they surrounded the house and also searched inside. Black said police found a man inside an upstairs bedroom, who was arrested and charged with burglary and theft.

Sgt. Black said that by quickly calling police during the July 11 incident and leaving the house, the residents did what they were supposed to do. However, police discovered that a side door had been left unlocked, which might have been how the burglar entered the house. 

“The most important thing is to lock everything up, including doors and windows,” said Sgt. Black.  Even though homeowners might be tempted to leave windows open in the recent scorching weather, it is not a good idea, he said. 

Sgt. Black offered a few other safety tips for residents:

• If you have old windows that can be unlocked from the outside (or locks that don’t function), place a wooden dowel in the window.
• Make sure that air conditioners are secured into the window, either by screwing them in or placing a wooden dowel in the side of the window.
• Consider getting a home inspection, offered free by local police departments. 

“Our crime prevention unit, headed by Lt. John Tutunjian, will come and walk through your house with you,” said Sgt. Black.  The officers can show homeowners how to better protect their homes from criminals.  For more information, call the Maplewood Police Department at (973) 762-3400.