NORTH BERGEN AND BEYOND — North Bergen Detective Bureau Lt. Frank Cannella said that on April 29 at 2:15 p.m., two males rang the doorbell for an elderly North Bergen woman and claimed that they were state employees who needed to check her drain pipes.
The victim told the individuals that her pipes were fine, but they pleaded to enter her home for another 25 minutes.
“While the one suspect was distracting the victim, the other unknown male entered the victim’s apartment. The victim’s daughter surprised the suspect, who appeared to be crouching down by the kitchen stove,” Cannella said.
The male told the victim’s daughter that he was checking the pipes.
The two men left the residence and walked north onto Grand Avenue, before entering a black SUV and leaving the area. However, before they left, the male allegedly shuffled through the victim’s bedroom, taking $200 in cash from her pocketbook with him.
The first suspect was described at slim, wearing a white and blue striped t-shirt and dark colored baseball cap. The other man was also slim, with some facial hair, and he was also wearing a baseball cap. Both appeared to be of either Arabic or Latin descent.
They also were carrying two-way radios and one had a flashlight.
Cannella said that the victims were able to identify one man in a photo book who is known to the police and goes by many different names. They have placed a warrant out for his arrest. His last known address was in Edgewater, N.J.
Cannella said that the springtime is when these diversion burglaries occur most often and he said that North Bergen residents should not allow anyone in their homes who is a stranger.
“We urge people to be vigilant and not let anyone in their house and to call the Police Department if they notice anything suspicious,” said Cannella.
Those with information may call the police at (201) 392-2100.