The Weehawken Police Department reminded residents last week to be wary of opening the door for strangers, especially with the recent deregulation of electric company PSE&G and influx of independent sales representatives in the area.
Although many of these representatives are legitimate, Weehawken Deputy Chief of Police Jeffrey Fulcher said residents should err on the side of caution and be careful to identify the validity of someone knocking on their door, claiming to be a sales representative. He said residents should not hesitate to call the police station to verify somebody’s identity at (201) 863-7800.
Meanwhile, police have been responding to the usual ration of burglaries and domestic violence calls. Below is our periodic Weehawken Police Beat rundown.
Stitched up, then booked
Carlos Javier Rios, 19, of Union City, was charged with possession of burglary tools and a master key, eluding police officers by foot and car, and resisting arrest following a motor vehicle incident on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.
A police officer on duty observed a blue Toyota Rav 4 allegedly being driven erratically by Rios on Park Avenue toward Marginal Highway. When the officer attempted to pull the car over, Rios allegedly accelerated and crashed into a parked car three blocks away.
After he crashed, Rios allegedly ran, but was ultimately caught by other officers responding to the call.
Investigation of the car revealed no credentials or valid paperwork, and police said Rios was found to have a motor vehicle master key and burglary tools in his possession.
Rios received medical assistance in the form of six stitches above his right eye before being brought back to the police station for processing.
Free delivery
A delivery bicycle worker from a restaurant in Union City had multiple food orders stolen from his bicycle Jan. 20 at 8:30 p.m. in Weehawken.
When the delivery man went to deliver an order to Park Avenue, a group of boys loitering nearby allegedly stole his bicycle, undelivered food orders included, and took off down the road. Eventually, the bicycle was left behind.
Watch your doors
Two residents on Highwood Terrace were burglarized on Jan. 4 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The first victim had his laptop computer and T Mobile cell phone stolen, and believes the alleged culprit gained entry through an unlocked back door.
A separate apartment on the second floor had its door kicked in during the same time period, but the owner could not verify that anything was missing.
Guess it wasn’t a golden retriever
A local woman lost her wedding ring while walking her dog in the vicinity of Hauxhurst Avenue on Jan. 10 at 11:30 a.m.
During an approximately eight-minute walk, she allegedly lost a 14-ct gold wedding ring valued from $2,500 to $5,000, she told police.
Snowstorms leave some grasping at shovels
Christopher Manuel Mendez, 19, of Union City, and two juveniles were charged with theft of movable property on Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m.
The three were found allegedly stealing shovels from a nearby residence to supposedly profit by shoveling snow.
Shopping doesn’t fill that empty hole inside
A Park Avenue resident filed with police as the victim of deceptive theft on Jan. 13.
The man told police he purchased a leather jacket with his debit card through Pay Pal on Nov. 11 for the amount of $170. When he received his shipment on Dec. 15, he found the box empty.
Pay Pal is looking into the alleged deceptive theft.
Jewelry goes missing
A 39-year-old Weehawken man alleged that property was stolen from his residence on Jan. 18.
Investigation is still ongoing in the case. Police say he got into an argument with his wife, also 39, earlier in the night. She reportedly ran over to a neighbor’s home, who then walked her home due to her allegedly intoxicated state.
The husband alleges that a Hermes cream and gold bracelet valued at $750 as well as a chrome and black Panerai watch valued at $6,000 were removed from his home sometime during the night.