December 2023

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: November 28, 2023 – December 5, 2023

Attempted Burglary

South Mountain Avenue (November 29, 2023): At 3:11 AM, the residents contacted the Montclair Police and reported that an unknown person had just attempted to enter their home. Upon receiving an alert, they discovered that their kitchen window had been partially opened. Home security footage showed a male dressed in all black wearing a mask and black gloves prowling in the rear of the home. He was unable to make entry.

Clinton Avenue (November 29, 2023): The resident reported that his surveillance system captured an unknown person walking up the driveway towards the side door of his residence during the overnight hours. The suspect looks through a window, opens a storm door, but is prevented from entering the home due to the main door being locked. The suspect leaves the scene back down the driveway. He was described as wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark face mask, dark Adidas pants with three white stripes on each pant leg, yellow or green gloves, and dark shoes with reflective or white sides.

Aggravated Assault

Washington Avenue (November 29, 2023): The victim reported that she is employed by a rideshare service and was transporting a female home when the passenger began spraying pepper spray inside of the vehicle. The driver pulled to the side of the road at which time the passenger sprayed the driver in the face. The passenger fled from the vehicle in the area of Washington Avenue. The driver was evaluated by Montclair EMS but refused further medical attention.

Burglary

Grove Street (November 29, 2023): The resident reported that his home alarm sounded at approximately 5:00AM. He discovered his kitchen window was open. Upon checking his surveillance, he discovered the suspects entered the kitchen through the kitchen window and proceeded to a bowl where the victim left his car keys. The suspects were able to flee the scene in the victim’s 2023 BMW M44 and 2021 Audi Q3. The Audi was located later in the day in East Orange. The BMW remains missing.

Hilltop Place (December 2, 2023): The resident reported that two unknown individuals entered his home and stole two of his vehicles. The suspects made entry into the home through a first-floor window. Once inside, the suspects located the keys to a 2023 BMW X5 and a 2024 BMW

X3 and fled the scene in both vehicles. In its place, the suspects left a 2020 Hyundai Elantra reported stolen from East Orange. The X3 was recovered unoccupied in West Orange. The X5 was recovered in Newark after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. A juvenile male from Newark was placed under arrest.

MV Crime

Edgecliff Road (December 2, 2023): At approximately 1:30 AM, Officers responded to an Edgecliff Road residence on a report of a motor vehicle theft in progress. The first arriving officer observed two males in all black clothing standing by the victim’s vehicle. The suspects fled on foot and the officer gave chase. The suspects ran to an awaiting medium sized white SUV and fled at a high rate of speed north on Edgecliff Road.

Shoplifting

December 1, 2023 (Valley Road): The manager at Kings Supermarket reported that a white female, wearing a black knit hat, black sweater and possible gray sweats and T-shirt, entered the store and stole approximately $266.00 worth of crab claws and lobster tails. She fled in an unknown direction.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: December 12, 2023 – December 18, 2023

Motor Vehicle Crime

December 12, 2023 (Chestnut Street): A contractor working on Chestnut Street reported that an unknown person entered his work truck and stole his backpack. The backpack contained $2500.00 in cash, a key fob to his personal vehicle, and numerous work documents.

December 14, 2023 (McDonough Street): The victim reported that his vehicle was entered and a backpack was removed. The backpack contained several work documents. Surveillance video in the area shows the suspect wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants and possibly a blue traffic vest (similar to an Amazon driver's vest). The suspect also appeared to possibly be wearing gloves and a black mask.

December 15, 2023 (Alexander Avenue): The victim reported that his unlocked work van was entered during the day. Clothing and a wallet were reported stolen. An unauthorized $500.00 purchase was made at a local GameStop.

December 15, 2023 (High Street): An employee with the US Postal Service reported that while he was out on his route, an unknown person entered his postal truck and stole an unknown amount of mail.

Package Thefts

December 12, 2023 (North Fullerton Avenue): The resident reported that two packages that had been delivered to her residence were stolen. Surveillance shows the suspect approach the home with a package in his hands. The suspect then appeared to pretend to scan the packages on the front porch before leaving the one he brought behind and stealing both packages. The suspect was a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, an orange neon traffic vest, white gloves, light blue jeans, white sneakers, and a light blue medical face mask. The suspect then left the property and entered an older model white station wagon. The packages contained $500.00 in merchandise.

December 12, 2023 (Upper Mountain Avenue): The resident reported that a package containing a pocketbook had been stolen from her porch. The suspect was seen on surveillance at approximately 2:32 PM wearing an orange vest and a mask walking up carrying another box. The suspect appears to scan the package, exchanges packages, and walks away with the first package that was delivered. The package left behind was determined to have been stolen from a Midland Avenue residence.

December 12, 2023 (Warfield Street): The resident reported a package theft from her home. As with the other cases, the suspect (black male wearing a black hoodie, an orange work vest, blue ripped jeans, and white gloves) is seen approaching the home with a package in his hands. He appears to scan the old package and flees with the new packages. He then enters his vehicle, described as a white hatchback vehicle.

Burglary

December 13, 2023 (Norman Road): The resident reported that he arrived home and discovered an unknown person entered his garage. A 2007 Porsche 911 located inside of the garage was entered. It is unknown if anything was stolen from the Porsche. The suspects were not able to take the car.

Criminal Mischief

December 16, 2023 (Park Street, Watchung Avenue, Claremont Avenue): Patrol officers discovered numerous incidents of criminal mischief beginning along Watchung Avenue and continuing south to the North Fullerton Parking Deck. The graffiti was spray painted on generator boxes, Rand Park, walls of businesses, and Town Hall. The graffiti included vulgar phrases and profanity. The suspect is described as a white male, thin build, with a black mohawk, wearing black combat style boots, black pants, black leather zip up jacket with some sort of metal or patches on the right chest and sleeves with a clear respirator around his neck, and black gloves. Anyone with information can contact Detective Steven Mateo at (973)509-4721. Suspect pictured below.