Burglars Targeting Abandoned, Boarded Up Homes
In one incident, woman claimed she burglarized an abandoned house because she was "broke."
Photos
A Lincoln Park woman has been charged with burglary after police reported she broke into an abandoned Brookside Road home Friday afternoon.
Officer Robert Franco responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle — a black van — parked at the end of River Road, according to a police report.
Police found the vehicle in front of an abandoned home at 31 Brookside Road and discovered that the rear door was forced open and left ajar, Franco reported.
Inside, a woman, later identified as Jodi Luke, fled from police, running over a nearby railroad track embankment, Franco reported.
Franco caught up with Luke and ordered her to stop, the report states.
Luke complied and voluntarily admitted breaking into the house, Franco said in the report.
“I broke into the house, I know I shouldn’t have, but I’m broke,” Franco reported Luke stated.
Luke was carrying a bag with various tools in it, including a hammer, pipe cutters, gloves, and a battery-powered lantern, the report states.
Luke told police that her friend, Pamela Haken, also of Lincoln Park, owned the vehicle, Franco reported.
Police found Haken in the area of the burglarized house; the vehicle was towed to police headquarters for further investigation, the report states.
“It’s a sign of the times we’re living in,” said Detective Capt. James Clarke.
In addition to the burglary charge, Luke was charged with theft and possession of burglary tools, Clarke said.
Haken was charged with burglary, theft, and possession of burglary tools, Clarke said. The women are due in municipal court June 28.
Police responded to a similar burglary on Cook Road Friday morning.
The owner of a house on the street reported that that his daughter’s flute was removed from a shed on the property, Officer Jeffrey Stamler reported.
Four glass vases that were sitting on a picnic table and valued at about $25 each were either broken or stolen, Stamler reported.
Stamler reported that the owner of the house saw what appeared to be teenagers from the area on the property shining a flashlight about two weeks ago.
In another incident, the owner of a home on Alps Road reported to police that he believed the house next door had been burglarized, according to a report.
Police reported that the house, located at 454 Alps Road, has been vacant for approximately three years and that the owner of a nearby house inspects the property every Sunday.
On June 17, the owner noticed that a rear basement window was missing, and a sliding door near the kitchen was unlocked, according to the report.
Police reported that there were no appliances in the kitchen, missing faucets in the bathroom and kitchen, a vanity missing from another bathroom, and copper pipes were missing from the basement.
Bank of America, the report states, owns the house.
Officer Eugene Foster responded to Brookside Drive Sunday morning on a report a boarded up house on the street was burglarized, a police incident report states.
Foster reported speaking to a man who noticed that a basement door and a latched lock on the front door were pried open.
Foster reported he noticed copper was missing from the basement, but was unable to determine if any other items were missing from the house.
The incidents are the latest in a rash of reported burglaries and attempted burglaries in the township.
Police reported that a dozen burglaries occurred in the Valley section of town between April 25 and May 30.
Three more burglaries occurred between May 31 and June 3 and four more between June 4 and 6.
Jewelry was taken from homes in several of these incidents.
Local and county law enforcement offiicial are hosting an information session on Saturday to discuss the incidents. Chief John Reardon and members of the Passaic County Sheriff's Office and county Prosecutor's Office are scheduled to attend.
Police urge anyone who sees anything suspicious to call the department at 973-694-0600.
Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Nose Wayne
6:22 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Yup, CHANGE is coming. People are desparate and are doing ANYTHING for money..How sad times have gotten where people (like yesterday in PA ) become crazed because they have reached their bottom and think they have nowhere to go or do. Yup, CHANGE is here (and not for the better), and unfortunately, looks like it will be sticking around for awhile.
Ed Zachary
9:29 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Hunter S. Thompson wrote that the beginning of the 21st century was the end of the American century. Maybe this is part of what he was talking about.
Nose Wayne
9:36 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Ed, Things are not American any more. Jobs,merchandise,language,people!!
Ed Zachary
10:30 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
What language is American?
Emanon
9:39 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Oh Yeah change is coming all right .......just wait to the 50% of college graduates can't find jobs and join the ranks of the unemployed .......and then BAs MAs and PHDs will be robbing your house., along with a host of OBAMA supporters LOL
eyes wide shut
2:16 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Gee i remember when the market crashed in 2008. Who's watch was that on? That's when YOUR boy GW had a whopping approval rating of 22% only to be out done by Cheney's 18%.. Oh and do YOU always laugh at your own silly comments? If so, you are ALL ALONE
Nose Wayne
10:35 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Ed,ENGLISH, Something we don't hear that much anymore !!
Ed Zachary
7:36 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Not necessarily, if you go by this definition of the word "America":
a·mer·i·ca (əˈmerikə):
1. A landmass in the western hemisphere that consists of the continents of North and South America joined by the Isthmus of Panama.
Bee
11:16 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Nose- anything going on in Wayne tonight? I heard police cars and now a helicopter, sounds like over by 23 area.
unrealthistown
11:24 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Obama our president granted 800k work visa's to Spanish/Mexican illegals
Nose Wayne
11:38 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Lorri, Just got back,quick trip to store.Did not hear anything yet. Will keep all posted,Hope not another robbery !!
Nose Wayne
1:00 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Lorri,My "Eyes and Ears" is working tonight, Hasn't called me about any "activity"
Bee
1:10 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thank you NOSE! I asked you because the Nose always NOSE !
Emanon
8:16 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I shall BLOW my NOSE, and then hold it as I vote for Mitt Romney in Nov.
Nose Wayne
9:29 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Emanon,?????????????
eyes wide shut
2:17 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nose, Emanon is out there huh?
Scondo
9:32 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Entreprenurial spirit taken to the furthest degree. Don't have anything, the house is abandoned, take the copper pipes and wiring and aluminum siding and gutters, storm doors and make a few dollars. Yes it is born out of desperation, but these unfortunates have decided to not go without some fight.
Nose Wayne
9:44 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Scondo, You are seeing more and more stories about this. Recently had a house under construction in town and they pretty much cleaned the house out to almost the bare walls.Now that is desperation. With the price of copper and metals, easy to make a few bucks.
Scondo
10:40 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
That is why plumbers use PEX and nothing gets left on site.
Bee
10:20 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
These places where you bring copper for money they should check I'd , take their picture and license plate # .If there not driving up in construction vehicles or look like plumbers ,then this place of business should be some what responsible for giving money out to anybody walking in with copper pipes .Aren't these people suspicious seeing someone come in possibly every week with copper pipes , obviously looking like there strung out on drugs .shouldn't this company be somewhat responsible for aiding them?
Scondo
10:44 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Well actually wouldn't it be better if the town required banks that foreclose to do a proper board up,and for owners of abandoned property to do a board up. People on Wilson have been after the town inspector to do something for nearly 6 months over a monstrosity they have and that is one of the nicest streets in town, take a ride down Wilson and you can't help but see it. Does inspector get out and look, not a chance. Drive down Armstong, over in Sandy's neck of the woods, and you can see the houses where the siding is being stripped every night. Abandoned houses are all over the place in every neighborhood you can find a few.
Sandy Fantau
11:46 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Scando, you must be a brave person.. I never use Armstorng Ave.. So where is the house that has the siding being striped. These people need to be caught.
Diane Hummel
2:44 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Scondo, just for FYI purposes, the house on Armstrong where the siding is missing - the siding was taken by the contractor that is going to raise that house. It is being used for a side job. They are waiting for all of the permits to go through so the house can be raised and redone. Just letting you know so that Sandy doesn't worry. Anyone tries that stuff that close to my house and I am not responsible for what happens to them when they meet my dog! But you are so right - the abandoned houses need to be better secured.
Sandy Fantau
5:01 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thanks Diane, that's just about the same thing I was going to post. I feel so bad for him that the permits to raise your home are taking so long and the insurance companies are making so many people jump through hoops to get their money to fix up their homes.
wyldthang18
10:34 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Isn't that what the pawn shops are supposed to do? Not like they bother to follow the laws so doubt these metal recycle places care either.
Bee
11:23 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
It's all about money and GREED! No regard for who's toes get stepped on in the process. pawn shops or where you bring your copper as long as it's making their wallets fatter that's all that matters!Laws have to be stricter!These places of business should be forced to show receipts ,records of the people that came in ,plate#.This can't be handed to them on a COPPER ,Oh mean SILVER platter!These abandoned houses are attracting criminals ,next thing you know they'll be turning in to crack houses.Their an eye sore also! If they are foreclosed than get the process moving.If they are owned and the homeowner doesn't live there and doesn't care for it than the town needs to contact their homeowner insurance co. I don't think they'll like to find out it's not being cared for and it's a sitting target for criminals!
wyldthang18
11:42 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Question...Why is the state involved with the whole prom dress fraud story and I keep reading info about laying down the law on the owners of that shop, yet the town seems to be hitting a bad downward spiral right now and the state doesn't seem to care? Why is the story of the burglaries/recent arrests on page 3/4 of the latest copy of Wayne Today instead of the front page? It seems like the higher ups priorities are royally twisted.
Nose Wayne
12:15 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Scondo, I am going to Town Hall today. I will talk to the person that takes care of that problem. I NOSE her very well. I think the house on Wilson is being done by a Resident/Contractor if it's that house on the right just in from Alps Road. But I will have her check out the problem. Also, the houses you said that had the siding ripped off, was that the new houses off Dave Espie Way ? Let me NOSE.
Scondo
12:56 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
No Nose, almost to the end on Wilson, right side.
Armstrong corner of Maple
Nose Wayne
12:24 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Sandy, You take your life in your hands to pull out onto Hamburg Turnpike from Armstrong!! Wyld, Goes to show you where the higher ups heads are at, and I can't say it on here (haven't been deleted in awhile) You NOSE what I am talking about.
Sandy Fantau
5:03 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I nose, that's why I never use that road in any direction.
wyldthang18
12:28 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Yeah I know, probably nice and comfy too bc the place is big enough. :)
Nose Wayne
1:04 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thanks Scondo for the update.
Wayne Resident
2:48 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Nose, are your initials D.C.?
Nose Wayne
10:01 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Scondo, those two issues are being taken care of as we speak. Wayne, NOSE, that are not my initials. Police Chief was not in, But I suggested the reverse 911 to one of my police buddies, and he will talk to the Chief. Will let you NOSE.
Ed Zachary
10:13 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Yes, if you get a whiff of anything, please let us NOSE. Gesundheit!
Nose Wayne
11:35 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
ALL, I will let everyone NOSE. Lorri, those sirens you heard last night was a domestic dispute on Mt. View Blvd.The Helicopter you heard was probabily Channel 5 News Helicopter flying over to land at Caldwell Airport. Might have seen all the lights on Mt. View Blvd and hovered over to check it out. NO ROBBERIES IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!
Bee
8:50 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
THANKYOU NOSE!
Tina Starke
11:13 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nose, a friend of a friend said there was an attempted break-in on Black Oak Ridge Road, about 2:30 AM Tuesday. I sure hope WPD was at least notified!
wyldthang18
1:04 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Oh boy i hope that's not true. It's spreading like the plague.
Scondo
1:57 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
It will continue to spread like the plague as long as there is an appearance that the town is easy pickings . Turn on the lights and start sending the signal that people are watching, use the reverse 911 system to alert people to the problem, many assume that people in town are aware, and that is a false assumption, many have no idea as to what is going on.
Bee
2:06 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The ones that do know it are not taking it seriously because it's not coming from someone of authority!
wyldthang18
2:42 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Do we all need to have a police scanner in our homes to know what's going on?
NS
1:30 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
We just had our three vehicles broken into on monday night while we were home. We live on black oak ridge road, thinking it happened around 2 AM when I heard a car racing off. Hard to tell though because black oak is basically treated as a speedway at night. This is getting crazy - lights on outside of my house and the neighbors. These guys have big balls and I can't wait to see them try it again...you will know I caught them when u see their heads on a stick on my front lawn!! Rumaged through THREE cars took everything they could and left a mess. Time to have the police thinking about robberies and not freaking seat belt tickets and stop sign violations! I am pissed off. Thanks to wayne patch for spreading the facts and letting me vent.
Maybe when someone in authority - with a police scanner gets robbed things will happen...
Emanon
8:28 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
As I saw a policeman enter the Dunkin' Donuts shop in the T Bowl shopping center , I congratulated him on the recent arrests by the PD ; however, if I were a cop , I would be "Laying Low" and not going into Dunkin Donuts for appearance sake, After more of these scum of the earth, low life sacks of shi* are apprehended then it will be time to celebrate. Perhaps utilizing a Starbucks Drive through would be more appropriate at this time.
I aint the NOSE , but I think i know something. LOL
Mildred Bayes
1:49 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
The shadow knows. Or is it nose?