String of Burglaries Hit Verona, Cedar Grove

Cedar Grove and Verona police reported a total of five burglaries between Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3 in both townships, officials said.

On Tuesday, April 2, Cedar Grove police were called to the Cedar Grove Garden Apartments on Pompton Avenue on a report of a burglary.

The victim reported sometime between Sunday, March 31 and Tuesday evening, someone entered his apartment through a ground floor window and allegedly took cash from his bedroom, police said.

That same day, a second resident of the complex reported several screens on her ground floor windows had been lifted up, but no entry had been made into her apartment, police said.

The Cedar Grove detective bureau is investigating the incidents.

Also on Tuesday April 2, a Verona police officer was called to a Summit Road home after a report of an activated burglar alarm.

After checking the home, the officer discovered there was allegedly damage to a dead bolt lock at the back door of the home. The homeowner reported there was no prior damage to this lock but no entry was gained to the home, police said.

At 12:54 p.m. on Tuesday April 2, Cedar Grove police were called to Staples on 91 and 93 Pompton Ave. on a report of tools stolen from a vehicle in the parking lot.

The victim told police sometime during the previous hour, someone allegedly entered his unlocked 2012 Ford work van and removed several power tools valued at $3,500, police said.

The next day, Wednesday April 3, Cedar Grove police were called to an Essex Road residence on a report of a possible burglary.

Police said the resident when she woke up Tuesday morning, she found a basement garage door leading to a basement laundry room propped open, in addition to pry marks on another basement entry door, police said. Nothing was reported missing.

Police are urging anyone with information, or anyone who observed suspicious activity at the time of these incidents, to contact detectives at (973) 239-4100.