Thefts at Maplewood Community Pool

This weekend, Patch received a tip from a resident about crime in the Maplewood Community Pool parking lot. Wrote the reader: "This weekend a friend of mine from out of town had their car broken into and their GPS stolen while parked at the Maplewood pool. When I informed the manager of the pool, he said there have been at least two or three other instances of cars being broken into and GPS's stolen during the middle of the day in the pool parking lot. Apparently, they're targeting GPS's. Cops told us they can get $20 for them at the pawnshop."

The Maplewood Police have confirmed this crime and another that took place at the pool last weekend: On August 2, a locked bicycle was stolen from the bike parking area sometime between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

As our reader wrote: "I think its important for your readers to know this is happening, and as they're are coming in and out of the pool parking, they should report any suspicious activity."

You can find more details of these crimes and other in this week's Maplewood Police blotter, which comes to us courtesy of Sgt. Dean Naddeo:

August 2, 2010: Bicycle Theft. A Burnett Ave. resident reported that an unknown suspect had removed a Diamondback mountain bicycle from the bike rack adjacent to the Maplewood Community Pool. The bicycle had been secured at 2:00 pm and was found to be missing at 8:00 pm. 

August 5, 2010: Robbery. At approximately 1:25 am, officers responded to a Berkeley Street residence on a report of a robbery. Officers met with a seventeen year old victim, who reported that he had been approached in his backyard by two males that he believed had followed him home from a Stuyvesant Ave. store. The victim reports that one of the males then brandished a kitchen knife and asked him what he was doing at the house. The victim then ran to safety before notifying family members and police.

August 6, 2010: Vandalism. T owner of a 2005 Infinity reported that unknown suspect(s) had gained entry to his vehicle by damaging the drivers door lock. The vehicle had been parked overnight near the intersections of Garfield Pl. and Boyden Ave.

August 7, 2010: Warrant Arrest. Officers assigned to the Crime Suppression Team, Detective Bureau, and Patrol Division coordinated efforts to locate 21 year old male Parris Jones, of Elmwood Ave., Maplewood, a suspect in the aggravated assault of a Maplewood Police Officer on 07/26/10. At approximately 1800 hours, as multiple officers searched the area of Maplecrest Park, officers R. Rosania and C. Black located and arrested Jones as he attempted to exit the park.

August 8, 2010: Vehicle Theft. A Valley Street resident reported that unknown actor(s) had stolen her 1997 Nissan Maxima from an apartment building parking lot. The theft occurred during the overnight hours.

August 9, 2010: Theft. A Pennsylvania resident reported that he had parked his Ford Explorer in the Maplewood Community Pool lot at approximately 12:00 noon. When he returned the vehicle at 2:40 pm, he discovered the driver's side window had been smashed out and a Garmin Nuvi GPS had been removed.