Police Reports: Grade A Goods is Burglarized

Tuesday, April 28:

• The owner of a home on South Ridgewood Road reported pulling into the driveway and observing smoke coming from the basement windows at 11:24 p.m. South Orange, Maplewood and Orange fire personnel arrived to extinguish the fire. The owner told authorities that the house was vacant.

• A Valley Street resident reported at 12:34 p.m. that $40 and a hydromorphone prescription had been taken from his home. He believes entry was gained through a second-floor window.
• A black 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser parked on Randolph Place was broken into between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The front passenger-side window was smashed, and the glove compartment was rummaged through, though nothing was taken.
• A silver 2003 VW Jetta was broken into in a Hartford Court driveway between 8:50 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. The perpetrator broke the driver’s side door lock to gain entry and apparently attempted to steal the car, since the ignition was damaged. The owner—who reported nothing stolen—ultimately heard the car’s stereo playing from inside the house, discovered the damage and contacted police.

Tuesday, May 5:

• Grade A Goods was broken into early Tuesday morning, and police responded to an active alarm at 1:52 a.m. to find the glass of the back door shattered and several items of clothing thrown onto the pavement. A police dog tracked the scent onto Taylor Place, Scotland Road, South Orange Avenue, Vose Avenue and then back to Taylor Place, but then lost it. The owner reported that approximately four jackets, 12 brown sweatshirts, 20 pairs of jeans, 10 white T-shirts, four long-sleeve shirts, 10 black shirts and 5 Lacoste shirts valued at $1,000 were taken. No cash proceeds were taken. The store didn’t have a working video camera.