Residents Asked To Be Proactive In Preventing Burglaries
Personnel from police department, Passaic County Sheriff's Office, and county Prosecutor's Office talk to citizens about rash of recent burglaries and what they can do to protect their families and homes front intruders.
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Paying attention, leaving lights on, and communicating with authorities.
Those were some of the tips local and county law enforcement officials shared with about 200 residents at a special public meeting Saturday at Wayne Valley High School regarding the recent rash of burglaries that have occurred in town. Representatives from the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office also attended the meeting.
Wayne Police Chief John Reardon said that officers and members of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office have set up a special task force of uniformed and plainclothes officers to patrol areas where suspicious activity has been previously reported. Authorities are using marked and unmarked vehicles to patrol the areas.
“Vehicles you’d never believe are police cars are out there,” Sheriff Richard Berdnik said.
Police stressed the continual need for residents to immediately report suspicious activity.
“Don’t hesitate to call,” said Scott Rappaport, a Wayne resident and a member of the police department’s community policing unit. “The information that you provide us may be the one tip that prevents them from breaking into my home.”
The Wayne Police Department can be reached at 973-694-0600.
Rappaport said that there are three proactive measures residents can take to dissuade people form breaking into homes.
Decrease the chance that burglars choose a particular home to break into.
- Keeping lights, a television, radio, or another appliance on when on one is home is something authorities said is a simple step residents can take that will make a prospective burglar move onto a darker, quieter house.
- Lock doors, don’t leave windows open or unlocked, and arm alarm systems.
- Report any suspicious vehicles or individuals. Be on the lookout for vehicles in neighbors’ driveways that look like they don’t belong there, especially if the front of the vehicle faces the street. This makes it easier for burglars to flee from a property.
- Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up on in a mailbox or on a driveway.
“We need you to do [these things] on a year-round,” Rappaport said. “We need you to be proactive to protect our homes.”
- Don’t keep valuables in bedrooms or in typical places. Jewelry boxes on top of dressers, valuables in a sock drawer, or leaving a laptop, cell phone, or tablet out in plain view should be avoided.
“If we make it difficult for them, they’ll go to another house or to another neighborhood,” said Detective Sgt. Ed Akins with the sheriff’s office crime scene unit.
Akins said that phone lines have been cut in previous burglaries to try and prevent alarm systems from notifying authorities a home is being burglarized.
Authorities said that a popular way of gaining entry into a home or gathering information about who lives at a particular residence is through a scam.
An individual will ring a doorbell and strike up a conversation with a resident asking if someone lives there or if they would like repair work or maintenance performed on their house.
Reardon suggested taking note of these individuals, asking them for identification, and to report any suspicious individuals to police immediately.
Reardon also suggested installing motion lights outside and more landscape lighting on properties to deter would be burglars.
Jewelry, money, and electronics are not the only things burglars are looking for. They’re also searching for scrap metal, especially copper pipes.
A woman was charged with burglary after police said she broke into an empty home in the Hoffman Grove section of town.
Jeff Mortman, a former Marine, has organized a neighborhood watch group to patrol Howe Avenue, Straten Drive, and other nearby streets. A few dozen people patrol the streets daily in shifts.
“It is going very well,” said Mortman, who regularly sends e-mail out to his neighbors about police activity in the area and other relevant topics regarding home safety. “People are getting to know their neighbors again. They wave to each other when they’re out. We could’ve turned a blind eye to each other but instead we’re helping each other out and it’s really great. We want to keep it going.”
The recent incidents occurred throughout the past seven weeks. Wayne Police initially reported a dozen burglaries occurring between late April and the end of May. Several others have occurred since.
The incidents were, at first, concentrated in the lower Valley section of town, but eventually spread to other streets, including Ratzer and Alps Roads.
Two Hackensack men were charged with burglary after a resident discovered them in his Fairfield Road home. Police searched for the men for hours after the initial incident; two other men eluded authorities.
The men used what Berdnik called a “drop-off” technique. The men reportedly entered the home while another man waited in a car outside the home.
People were home when a few of the attempted burglaries occurred in Wayne. No one was hurt in any of the incidents.
— 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.
In This article
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Wayne Valley High School
551 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ -
Passaic County Sheriff's Department - Law Enforcement Division
435 Hamburg Tpke, Wayne, NJ -
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Justice
9:26 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Great Forum. Thanks to all.
Nose Wayne
9:42 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thanks Sheriff and Wayne PD for the information the people of Wayne much needed to hear.People are still back in the old days of leaving their doors and windows open. It's great to see that one neighborhood started a watch program. Hopefully more will follow.
unrealthistown
11:26 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
ok, so we will live in fear....Last time I checked not everyone has central air and need the windows open so the attic whole house fan circulates the air. Real sad when the police can not catch thieves and they are much smarter then they are. Only a matter of time with the windows and doors closed before they start kicking in the front door................Then what?
NotRealName
12:32 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Last time I checked the police are doing the best they can under the circumstances. These burglars are part of a larger crime ring in Bergen County that spreads itself out all over NJ, so Wayne is not the only area getting hit by these idiots. So the 2 that were caught will just be replaced by two others. Its a different age, we have to all get to know our neighbors and watch each other's backs. Lock your homes and car doors, leave a light on when you're not home and report suspicious activity asap, not two weeks later. So many people are desperate from lack of employment, this was bound to start happening, unfortunately.
fboy1932
4:30 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Are you kidding me? surveillance came out and now they where masks, rubber gloves to prevent finger prints and I can go on and on. Please do not blame law enforcement for our troubles, blame our judicial system, our government. There isn't enough money to hire MORE law enforcement. Maybe if OUR government would stop worrying about other countries rather than ours, this country of OURS would be a better place. So please understand to not point fingers on the little people, point straight at the WHITE HOUSE. Our fore fathers who ran OUR country made this country of OURS before you and I were born, the where men, no boys that think their men by wearing a suite, shirt and tie. Please don't take this as an attack, and I'm not in law enforcement but I do have friends that risk their lives every single day for the salary they receive whether their in DD or BB OR MD, just remember anyone who wheres a law enforcement uniform has a potential target on them. And I do respect your opinion by the way.
eyes wide shut
11:39 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Crime is a fact of life, it happens ALL over the world if you don't think so, then YOU are not living in reality.. Ill live in Wayne anytime, im happy here and have been so. If you don't like it and think it is unsafe then my suggestion to you is to move, but the question is to where that is 100% safe...Give credit to ALL local law enforcement agencies, its just a matter of time before this will come to an end...
unrealthistown
12:04 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I wish I could but there happens to be a Country wide real estate problem maybe if your eyes were not wide shut you would realize this. And Crime is not a fact of life and does not happen all over the world. Maybe you should look outside the box your living in.
eyes wide shut
9:05 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
@unrealthistown; Crime is not a fact of life huh? WOW..Where do you live in Iceland? Lets see, jails are overcrowded for what reason? Back log in courts? Name me a country and a city that does NOT have a police dept? Show me a prison that is empty. And you say i live in a box? LOL If stupidy were concret, you'd be route 80
unrealthistown
9:51 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
So I guess this is how the WPD justifies there salary in the good ole town of Wayne, You can't not compare a yuppie town such as Wayne when the worst crime was a bunch of kids get into a fight or 15 police cars chasing an old man driving a pinto down rt80.
Crime is not a fact of life it is a business for government with there privatized prisons filled with African Americans that tax payers fund and towns make money to send inmates to. Why do you think they did away with the death penalty, They make more money keeping the maximum security inmates alive. And when Christie ordered a cut in the prison systems they cut all the rookies and gave massive overtime to upper level guards which were making over 400k a year IN OVERTIME lol!! Unreal, Who is the crook? The entire US Government needs to be overhauled (cut in half) and hopefully we get a real President to do it some day... Now go do your job and catch these guys before someone gets hurt........
fboy1932
4:34 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
FYI- my comment was for unrealthistown
fboy1932
4:43 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
@ unrealthistown can you please tell me what part of the world where you state there's no crime? unfortunately today it is a fact of life since it happens every single day more now than ever. Also anything outside the US is not valid for me to believe that a government would state there is no crime. I think you should really do some research on crime in our surrounding areas. There are towns that keep it hush hush, is that what you need to hear?
unrealthistown
5:07 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Wayne PD being paid more then enough to do this job, It used to be the worst thing that happened in Wayne was a false alarm or domestic arguments. Now that they have a real live problem that requires Getting there manicured nails dirty and doing the job of a real police officer they scream for the tax payers help and cry it's to difficult to catch a bunch of low level no education scumbags. Give me a break..................... This is really pathetic! They caught the other two scumbags because of a home owner........ Call East Orange or Newark or better yet Brooklyn NY where they are being paid a fraction of what these guys are being paid and ask for there help they will get them....................Unreal how annoying when a bunch of police officers would post on a message board to make themselves look victimized by a bunch of crooks from Hackensack, NJ (the james bond gang) lol!!......Call Hackensack and get there help
fboy1932
6:00 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
your missing the point, their aren't enough police offers to give us all the protection your looking for. And so what if they are paid highly? all of those men have a collage back ground, isn't that why we enforce our children going to collage? we all wanna make good money with the sacrifices of getting a education. Please don't compare Newark where corruption has ruined a once good neighborhood and every politician elected still cant clean up the city. As far as NY the cops there are paid low because you don't need a college education if I'm not mistaken. Towns cannot be compared to other towns, also I'd be damn to live in Passaic County if NY type cops patrol our town. Maybe Wayne PD should change the policy that would grandfather any officer on the force now to maintain there salary and any new commers pay them as low as NY and whatever other city or town that pays less. Lets see what happens? I will be the first to run outta here pal. You don't know where I grew up, so I do know something that maybe you don't. I hate this town but I love our police department. They deserve well and if anyone who disagrees, that's ok because we all have had the opportunity to become one. Its that simple. Hackensack? lol. at all the towns you mentioned. You gotta love it...oh by the way, new son will soon become a Dr. guess what? hes gonna make more money than all of us, why? got an education and contined his education to achive WHAT he wanted to become and deservs all the $$$$ he makes.
John Davies
11:39 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Get your facts straight, moron. They "caught the other two scumbags" because a police officer checked out the car they were using and it took off, with him in pursuit.
stewart pidd
5:41 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Agree with unrealthistown. The things they suggested are home living 101. Anyone who doesn't take these obvious precautions take their chances and get what they deserve.
As for WPD, as long as there are patrol cars parked side by side (I provided details 2 weeks ago and have seen THREE more instances since in the Wayne Hills Mall parking lot, as long as they continue to break their own laws (saw te souped up Charger cut off 2 cars and run a red at corner of Riverview and West Belt Parkway Friday 6/21 at about 1130 am. - no sirens and went normal speed after he turned - just didn't feel like waiting, I guess. - this same car was also in the drive thru at TD Bank right before this - I can't run errands during my workday, why can WPD), it's hard to say they're doing their best, doing enough, trying hard, etc. Maybe ill start posting car numbers now when I see this stuff. Let's see how police chief and mayor deal with that.
How many cars patrol at night now? Before I think they said it was 9. Releasing this info doesn't compromise any surveillance they do, but it would reassure us taxpayers that they really are doing more.
I'm hearing lots of tips, lots of do this, don't do that - directed at us taxpayers. What I'm not hearing is WPD taking any accountability for this. Their words are just that. Words. We need to see action and results.
fboy1932
6:09 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Yes but we as home owners need to man up and take responsibility not law enforcement. And yes its 101 because its homes that are being broken to. They have no right making us do anything, they can only recommend. End of day its my house that I own not there's. Wow... your only hearing where are the facts? I hear things every day, do you actually believe I believe it? No.
fboy1932
6:17 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Then maybe since your that good watching and keeping an eye out on cops, why don't your start a neighborhood watch and I will be the 1st to join and help you. This way we can tell our mayor that we don't need them anymore because your so good at making sure our town is safe by calling out our police officers. did you ever think they were working a double and taking a mandatory lunch? a cop can take lunch and a break just like all of us....see you think you know it all. What your saying happens in Newark, Hackensack and I can go on. It doesn't happen here because of people like you that think where all being screwed. Lets worry about the drug problem we have here, its amazing I never had read a post by a tax payer like yourself and others who worry and complain about the nonsence. Everyones worried about chicken farms and screwing a carwash guy.
unrealthistown
2:27 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
John Davies
You need to get your fact straight MORON, There was no car chase. The home owner assisted and the ones the police were chasing got away
fboy1932
6:05 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I made the choice of not going to collage, guess what? I don't get paid well. Why should I blame anyone who sacrificed years of education to make more than me? I bet you wouldn't complain if your where a Wayne cop, right? I didn't think so. Anyway continue on giving your opinions because its just an opinion.
Nose Wayne
7:27 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Stewart, Saw the charger doing about 70 in rush hour traffic up Hamburg Turnpike the other day. I NOSE they have to get to calls in a hurry,but they won't do any good if they don't get there by killing themselves or somebody else. Still seeing them parked all over town still after all these robberies going on.If they are going to talk the talk,they better walk the walk.
unrealthistown
10:08 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
No matter what anyone says in this town it just does not matter and will not change a thing. Tax payers and town citizens of Wayne have absolutely no say what so ever. We are just there to pay for everything and anything the town government wants.
Good luck everyone and if someone breaks into my house you can be 100% sure they will not make it out in one piece, The rest my dogs will eat.
God bless America!
Nose Wayne
12:08 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Unreal, You want to borrow my sign. IF THE DOG DOESN'T GET YOU,THE 38 WILL!!!Thinking about making several thousand (a friend of mine is a printer) Robbers won't NOSE what is real or not!! That should deter them.
Bee
10:24 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
No disrespect - I just need someone to explain to me why the wayne police need a four year degree to be able to catch a criminal. I think you need to be street smart have possibly grown up around these types of people to have an inner instinct how they operate . Ok so you need to know how to write a good report . It takes four years to learn that? Or do you need to recite the Gettysburg address when you are giving them a speeding ticket?Please don't tell me it's only to justify a big paycheck I hope there is a reason ! My opinion- being street smart goes a long way!
Al Scala
11:12 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
While it's nice to have members of our police department with college degrees, why would they not hire our service veterans, coming out of the armed forces. I would think that an ex-marine, army or navy veteran would have both the physical and mental training to handle the job of a cop. I believe there is a written test that they have to pass as well as a physical test. I would also think that our veterans would have the instincts required as well.
unrealthistown
12:07 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Veterans of the middle East conflict / war get pushed to the top of the waiting list. Most towns have a waiting list to become a police officer after graduating the academy. You do not need a 4 year college degree to become a P/O. I know many police officers that can't spell there own name.
Al Scala
2:14 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I'm glad to hear that about our veterans. Pushing them to the top of the list is the least we should do for them! Whether we agree on this war or not, we should give them every opportunity to get their lives back to normal. That's probably easier said than done.
Nose Wayne
2:42 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Unreal, Yes you need a college degree to become a police officer. Why, don't NOSE why.Years ago you just needed to graduate high school. Maybe they want you to be a smart robber finder ?
unrealthistown
4:01 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I guess it depends on what town your in.... I know many police officers I grew up with that do not have a college degree except for detective in Bay Ridge NY... Well if they have a college degree what good is it doing for them? They are being out smarted by the James Bond Gang from Hackensack NJ.. My 2 cents tells me I believe the sanitation department is involved some how... They can easily find out what cars are always home by the routes 2-3 times a week any hour of the day and call from the cell phones they are always on a member of the James Bond Gang to plan the hit..... But who am I?? I am just a grunt tax payer
fboy1932
5:38 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
As a vet myself I don't need a free ride, I'm no different than anyone else..If I wanted to become a public servant ie. "Cop" or whatever you wanna call it, Its me who should have gone outta my way to apply, take the test and pass. DONT insult a Vet to offer me, us anything for free. I, myself decided to defend MINE, YOURS and EVERYONE ELSES safety for enlisting in the military. AMERICA is LAND of OPPERTUNITY for all US citizen's. Blame the WHITE HOUSE. If your not intelligent enough rank high on a test, then suck it up and take it again, its that simple:)
Nose Wayne
2:53 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Al Some of our officers in town are Veterans. One of them I NOSE very well has done several tours of duty. Just had an Ex-Marine as Chief of Police Retire. Some of the most respected officers you will ever find.
Class of 00
6:02 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
It's college not collage ..hopefully these criminals don't steal dictionaries bc quite a few of you need to go back and read yours! It's you're not your...and dont say its not school blah blah because you sound like a complete idiot arguing points and typing like a 12 yr old
fboy1932
6:21 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Are you wearing tight panties today? abcdefghijklmonpqrstuvwxyz LMBO!!!!!!!! thanks for the laughs but I must go work to help pay off my sons college tab:) who will hopefully be your Dr. one day:) OMG this is hysterical:)
fboy1932
6:13 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Sorry for not using spell check like you to look as I was intelligent like you...this is sooo funy! hahahahahahah
unrealthistown
6:21 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
He must be a police officer... Just to be safe I apologize if I offended you by spelling a word incorrectly.
Otay!
Bee
6:29 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
@class of 00- You forgot to add a punctuation at the end of your sentence!
Nose Wayne
6:35 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
ALL,at this time,Wayne Police and PC Sheriff Department are looking for a burglary suspect on Alps Road between Ratzer Road and Osborne Terrace. He's a White Male about 5 feet 9 inches and is heavily tattooed.CALL 911 if you see somebody fitting this discription in the area. Will keep all informed!!!!
Uncle Ray
6:49 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
This must be the place for the Housewives of Wayne!
Get off your ass and the computer, and go help the cops catch these scumbags before they rob your computer!
Bee
6:52 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I'm going to find him , when I do I'm going to flip a table on him!
Nose Wayne
6:58 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Hey Ray, They have to get past the dog. If they make it past the dog,the 38 will kick in.Not going to get past that!!!!
Uncle Ray
7:48 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Nose,
There's no way they are getting past my dog. He's as mean as they come and allways armed...with a frisbie!
Glad to hear that the 5'-9" monster was caught. I did see at least four patrol cars and a couple of unmarked SUV type vehicles speeding up and down Nellis and surrounding streets in the neighborhood. If you blinked you missed it. Great work WPD! I do believe K-9 units were on the job. No frisbies there, for sure...
One more scumbag caught, but if this is gang related, which it might be, it's not over.
Let the cops do what they do best, help where we can and we can allways deal with the taxes later.
Nose Wayne
8:17 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Ray,Don't put the dog away yet. Like you said,people are desparate and if this is gang related,there will be more. These people have big ones to think they can get away with this during the day. Will be seeing him soon on "WORLDS DUMBEST CRIMINALS"
unrealthistown
8:35 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Got to give credit where credit is due....Good job WPD!
Nose Wayne
8:42 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Wayne Police and Passaic County Sheriff Department get a big ATTABOY today!!!!!!!
Uncle Ray
8:31 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sure hope there's no 10% allowed on that bail. WPD and County should missplace the keys so this "La Mia Neonata" has no chance of making bail. Charged as he is with all the burglaries, he's got to try to cop a plea by giving up more names. I say hold'em, get more names, then cancle the bail altogether. Don't let this banger walk!!!!!!
unrealthistown
8:56 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
He has a high bail in two towns (little Falls and Wayne) and out on parole for robbery in NY.
Uncle Ray
8:43 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Dear Honorable Wiess,
This defendant may be the link the WPD and Passaic County, as well as NYC and Bergen County PDs have been looking for. If you honor the innocent victems as well as, all law abiding tax payers of this part of the State, as much as the taxpayers honor your position and rightfull duties, I beg you please to revoke bail on this subject in custody.
Bee
9:54 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
He committed a crime while on parole he should not be able to get out on bail ! Why are we being so lenient with him ? He's a Repeat offender. Just think of the lives he put in jeopardy . Police chase ,crashing his car into someone's garage,running through yards if someone was out he probably would have held the hostage.What about the little girl about to go in that playhouse ,what would he have done to her ?The police could have crashed and got hurt possibly killed.What if someone was standing by that garage? Let's clean this country up, get the garbage off the streets!
Michelle Smith
5:20 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
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