2 Cedar Grove Home Burglaries Reported: Lock Up, Cops Say

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Cedar Grove police are advising local residents to lock and alarm their homes after two Eileen Drive residents reported burglaries on Saturday evening.

The Cedar Grove Police Department issued the following advisory on Monday:

“Police are currently investigating a Saturday, Feb. 11 evening burglary to two separate Eileen Drive residences. Police initially responded to the first home at 6:59 p.m. on a report of a burglary and subsequently discovered the second burglary during a canvassing of the neighborhood. Both residences had the front doors forced open. Interior checks revealed that the homes had been ransacked and property removed.

“Residential surveillance video captured three hooded males circling the exterior of the home then kicking in the front door in at 6:12 p.m. Further checks of the neighborhood revealed additional video of the actors on foot in the neighborhood wearing hoodies with their faces masked. A suspect vehicle was also seen idling and circling in the area for an extended period of time.

“The actors then loaded two stolen safes into the suspect vehicle in the street and left the area. The vehicle is described as a light-colored sedan or crossover with tinted windows.”

Cedar Grove police stated that detectives processed the scene of the alleged burglaries and are conducting a follow up investigation and conducted directed patrols in the wake of the incidents.

“In response to these burglaries, police are urging residents to lock and alarm their homes when unattended,” police stated on Monday. “Be vigilant and to report all suspicious activity as it occurs. Please be aware that many burglaries, like these, have occurred in the late afternoon and early evening hours while residents are away. Burglars will often ring doorbells or peer into these homes to establish if anyone is home before breaking in. Please immediately report any instances of unknown persons ringing yours or a neighbor’s doorbell, suspicious cars or individuals on your or your neighbor’s property.”

Contact the Cedar Grove Police Department at 973-239-4100, or via 9-1-1 if a crime is in progress.

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