Footprints In Snow Lead Police To Alleged Teaneck Car Burglars

TEANECK, N.J. — Footprints in the snow enabled police to tie men to the break-ins of several vehicles Sunday morning.

Police responded to Mildred Street and Johnson Avenue at 6:39 a.m. on a report that three men in dark clothes with flashlights were breaking into vehicles, said Acting Police Chief Glenn M. O'Reilly.

Officer Glenn Coley stopped Mohamed Monessar, 19, of Ridgefield, who was walking on Queen Anne Road near Johnson Avenue, who was in possession of suspected marijuana, a flashlight, money, sunglasses and headphones, police said. He was taken into custody and brought to the police department.

At about 7:35 a.m., Officer Michael Danenza stopped Wellington Antun Jr., 20, of Teaneck, and Bryan Pacheco, 20, of Bogota, who was walking on Queen Anne Road near Copley Avenue, only a few blocks from the original call, O'Reilly said.

Footprints left in the snow enabled police on scene to tie the subjects to the cars that they reportedly entered, O'Reilly said.

Police found Antun in possession of suspected marijuana, a flashlight and money, the acting chief said; Pacheco was in possession of a flashlight, a knife and money. They were taken into custody and brought to the police department.

Police found a vehicle the suspects allegedly used and impounded it, O'Reilly said. Police searched it and found additional items believed to have been stolen from other vehicles, O'Reilly said.

Monessar, Antun Jr. and Pacheco were each charged with two counts of burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools. Monessar and Antun Jr. were each charged with possession of marijuana, O'Reilly said.

Additional charges are pending investigation into the items recovered from the search of the suspects' vehicle, police said.

All three men were released pending initial appearances in Central Municipal Court Feb. 1.

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Photos: Mohamed Monessar, 19, of Ridgefield; Wellington Antun Jr., 20, of Teaneck and Bryan Pacheco, 20, of Bogota — Teaneck Police Department