Woman Stole Packages Around Wayne, Including Holiday Gifts: Police

WAYNE, NJ — A Totowa woman stole packages outside of homes and businesses throughout Wayne, police said. Police recovered stolen goods, including holiday gifts, from eight places throughout the township Dec. 22, according to authorities.

Stephanie Ortiz, 20, was charged with two counts of theft of movable property (fourth-degree), six additional counts of theft of movable property (disorderly persons offense) and one count of tampering with public records (disorderly persons offense).

Wayne police were alerted about a package theft from a Cecilia Drive porch at about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Officers obtained a description of the suspect and her vehicle before arriving.

As patrol officers responded to the first location, police got another call. A person matching the description unpackaged items and threw boxes in the dumpster at a commercial building on Riverview Drive, police said.

The suspect fled by the time police got there, but officers retrieved the discarded boxes and found several addresses from then, including one on Talsman Court, authorities said. Police relayed the addresses to the Detective Bureau, who assisted with the investigation.

The investigation found Ortiz responsible, so police went to her home. She drove back to her home just after 6 p.m. Dec. 22, and police took her into custody.

Police recovered stolen items from eight places within Wayne and returned them to their respective owners that night.

Ortiz was released with a summons to appear at the Passaic County Superior Court.

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