Man Burglarized 6 Cars In 2 Hours In Bergen County Town: Cops

TEANECK, NJ — A man who burglarized six cars in a two-hour period in Teaneck last month has been arrested, police said Tuesday.

Michael Cokley of Middletown, N.Y. was charged Sunday in connection with the break-ins that took place between 3 and 5 a.m. on Dec. 6, said Police Chief Andrew McGurr.

McGurr said Cokley was charged with six counts of third-degree burglary, as well as third-degree theft and two counts of fourth-degree credit card theft.

Stolen items included a wallet, electronics, identification cards, credit cards, and cash, McGurr said.

McGurr said all of the burglaries took place in the south section of town, specifically in the areas of Copley Avenue, Oakdene Avenue, Herrick Avenue and Degraw Avenue.

"Detectives were able to obtain a substantial amount of home surveillance video evidence from the
community," McGurr said.

A resident on Copley Avenue said their video showed a suspicious person in their driveway trying to open a car door at 4:02 a.m., he said. And someone on Herrick Avenue reported that their security system detected motion in their backyard at 4:48 a.m.

With help from other law enforcement agencies, the police identified Cokley as the suspect.

He was stopped in Fairview on Sunday by Cliffside Park police, McGurr said, and placed under arrest.

He then asked for medical attention and was taken by police to Holy Name Medical Center. After being medically cleared, he was processed by Teaneck police and taken to the Bergen County Corrections Center, McGurr said.

Police reminded residents to always lock their vehicles and remove valuables from view.

Anyone with information about this case or others was asked to contact the Teaneck Police Department at 201-837-2600 or Crime Stoppers. Tips can be made anonymously and confidentially on the group’s website at www.bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for tips that lead to an arrest.