North Bergen
Alleged stolen vehicle doesn’t stop
On the morning of Aug. 15, Paul Lopez and Jesus Aguila Diaz from North Bergen, both 18, were apprehended by police, allegedly in a stolen car.
According to Capt. Gerald Sanzari, some time after 5:39 a.m., Police Officers Shannon Cullen and Brian Himsel spotted a vehicle travelling north on Kennedy Boulevard. When they got closer, the car made a U-turn in front of them and began to travel south.
The officers then activated their lights and “audibles,” but the driver allegedly ran a red light at 67th Street and Kennedy Boulevard, before making a quick stop on 64th Street, turning onto Smith Avenue.
Sanzari said that the driver, along with two passengers, allegedly jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving. The car continued to roll west, damaging a street sign as well as the vehicle itself.
North Bergen Police believe that two recent hotel thefts may be connected.
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Within the car they found a screwdriver and alleged tampering of the steering wheel. The car was reported stolen out of North Bergen.
Lopez was charged with being an unlicensed driver, improper U-turn, failure to observe a signal, and careless driving. Both men were charged with being in possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, and resisting arrest.
Judge Nino Falcone set their bail at $10,000, with no 10 percent bail bond option.
Hotel thefts in NB
North Bergen Police believe that two recent hotel thefts may be related.
Sanzari said that on Aug. 12 around 8:01 a.m., Illinois tourists were waiting for their rooms at a Tonnelle Avenue hotel. The mother and daughter had placed their luggage on the floor, along with a black Prada handbag on top of their luggage.
Two white males with brownish-black hair entered the parking lot in a maroon-colored vehicle and came into the lobby, according to surveillance videos, said Sanzari.
One of the men carried what appeared to be a beige shirt, which he covered the Prada bag with, while the other man allegedly distracted the daughter. Then the men left the lot in their vehicle, according to the video.
The $1,400 purse contained two passports, two driver’s licenses, a student I.D., a Visa credit card, $300 Calvin Klein sunglasses, a $500 Christian Dior wallet, and $600 cash, police said.
A similar incident happened on Aug. 14 at a Columbia Avenue motel. A 34-year-old male visiting from Israel and his family were waiting, at about 10:30 a.m., for their room to be cleaned. Their luggage was under the hotel’s awning, which they were able to watch from the parking lot.
Sanzari said that then a dark-colored Ford Edge, which had three males inside, pulled up and obstructed their view. The men fled with three bags.
The victims reported that a $220 Panasonic Camera, a $300 LG cell phone, an Israeli I.D., a credit card, an airline ticket, and sunglasses were stolen.
Police believe the maroon-colored car they saw on the video of the earlier incident matched the one in this incident. Anyone with more information should call the North Bergen Detectives Bureau at (201) 392-2092.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.