South Orange Package Thefts 'Spiking,' Cops Say

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange police apprehended a suspected package thief on Tuesday with the help of a local homeowner’s doorbell video system. The arrest took place amid a recent “spike in package thefts,” authorities said.

According to the South Orange Police Department, the homeowner’s video footage captured an image of the suspected thief, who has an “extensive criminal history” that includes thefts and robberies.

The alleged theft took place near Conway Court and Rynda Road, police stated.

The homeowner called police immediately after the incident, setting off a response that resulted in a swift arrest. The alleged thief was dressed in clothing similar to those described by the homeowner and was seen dropping a package as an officer pulled up to question him, authorities said.

Officers found a loaded firearm in the suspect’s jacket pocket when they arrested him, police said.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch South Orange Facebook page.

South Orange police didn’t release the suspect’s name in their alert, but said that “a thief and dangerous man with a gun is off the street.”

“We're always asking our residents to call us whenever they see or hear something unusual because for the most part, our gut instincts are often correct,” police stated. “We've also stressed the importance of home security and video surveillance systems… Looking out for one another and security video are crucial in the fight against this.”

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