Bicycles Taken, Man Arrested For Pulling Ridgewood Fire Alarms, Police Say

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Ridgewood Police Department to Ridgewood-Glen Rock Patch. The information contained was included at the department’s discretion.

• On Monday July 27, a resident reported that an unidentified person had opened several credit cards accounts utilizing his/her personal information. The matter is being investigated by the detective bureau. Information concerning prevention/reporting identity theft is available at the Ridgewood Police Department. While reports of similar incidents continue to be on the rise it is prudent to closely monitor your credit history as well as incoming mail at your residence.
• On Wednesday July 29, a Dayton Street resident reported that a red Diamondback Century bicycle had been removed from his/her unlocked garage. The matter is being investigated by the detective bureau.
• On the evening of Wednesday July 29, while on plainclothes assignment in the woods behind Lester Stables, Detective Douglas Henky observed four juvenile consuming alcoholic beverages. The juveniles were transported to headquarters with the assistance of patrol units where they were later released into the custody of their parent’s pending juvenile complaints for possession/consumption of alcoholic beverages underage.
• On Thursday July 30, an employee at an office located at 1200 East Ridgewood Ave. reported personal property, including a small amount of cash removed from his/her desk. The matter was forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation.
• On Thursday July 30, an East side resident reported that someone had damaged a light fixture located in his/her front yard.
• On Thursday July 30, a North West Central Bergen Dispatch received a box alarm of fire from the area of Lenox and Ackerman Avenues. Responding officers were unable to locate a fire and the person who had pulled the alarm had left the scene.

A short time later when North West Bergen Central Dispatch received a second alarm in the area of Melrose Place and Godwin Avenue Patrolman Jeffrey Kay observed a man running from the area.

Nycheem P. Gatling, 20 of Paterson, was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of causing a false public alarm. Gatling was released pending a first appearance before the Ridgewood Municipal Court.

• On the afternoon of Thursday July 30, a resident reported that items were removed from an unattended beach bag at Graydon Pool. The detective bureau is investigating the matter.
• On Friday July 31, an East side resident reported that subsequent to making an acquaintance on a dating website (Shaadi.com) the party asked him/her to for money, when he/she was unable to comply with that request, the party inquired if they could cash/deposit a cashier’s checks for them into his/her personal account. The party then asked for them to withdraw the funds in the form of cashier’s check and deposit them into an account in another bank. The resident’s bank later alerted him/her that the checks were fraudulent. The detective bureau is investigating.
• On Sunday Aug. 2, an East side resident reported observing a juvenile exit his/her property riding a family member’s silver Marin Mountain bike. The juvenile, who was last seen entering Maple Park, was gone prior the police’s arrival. The matter is being investigated by the detective bureau.
• On Monday Aug. 3, an East Glen Avenue resident reported that a sign was damaged in front of his/her home and recycling containers knocked over, spilling their contents into the roadway.

On Monday Aug. 3, a Sheridan Terrace resident reported that overnight a wicker chair was removed from his/her front porch. The chair was later located by police patrolling the area. Also, while checking the area, patrol units observed a neighbor’s light post had been damaged, the resident confirmed that the damaged had occurred sometime overnight.

On Tuesday Aug. 4, a West side resident reported discovering fraudulent charges had been made on one of his/her credit card accounts. Information concerning prevention/reporting identity theft is available at the Ridgewood Police Department. While reports of similar incidents continue to be on the rise, it is prudent to closely monitor your credit history as well as incoming mail at your residence.