A now former employee of the Alexan CityView apartments was arrested by Bayonne Police for an alleged burglary and theft at an apartment there, according to a police statement issued on July 9, but residents who lived at the complex during a series of burglaries and thefts are wondering why it took so long to catch him.
The suspect, Christian Perez, a 39-year-old North Bergen man, was employed as a maintenance engineer at Alexan from November of last year until the spring of this year.
There have been 13 burglaries at the complex since Feb. 23, a police official said.
“It is extremely disappointing that it took so long to finally put an end to this, if this is even the end,” said resident Jen Zoller. “And for that, I look to the inadequate management of the Alexan CityView property. At what point will they take responsibility for who they hire and what happens here?”
“I feel terrible for those who lost irreplaceable personal items due to the lack of security procedures that come standard at any other apartment community,” Zoller said.
Another resident, 31, who lived through the string of burglaries in the winter and spring was relieved to hear about the arrest, but said that it was too little, too late for her personally. She moved out at the end of May.
Asked not to be identified, she said that as a single woman she could not stay.
“I had to move out because I didn’t feel comfortable anymore,” she said. “I figured it had to be someone who had a pass code to get into all the apartments.”
When no new locks were put on apartment doors, it led to many anxious nights for her, including sleeping with lights on, as well sleeping on her couch, so she would be able to hear someone entering her place.
Finally, it meant moving into a girlfriend’s apartment for a month, before she could find a new apartment.
“I couldn’t handle the fact they were not doing anything,” she said. “At a meeting they had, they weren’t telling us who it was. But I knew it wasn’t a resident having that access.”
Alexan CityView management declined to be interviewed about the burglaries or the arrest. However, it did release a two-sentence statement:
“We understand that the Bayonne Police Department has taken a suspect into custody that was previously employed at the community. Because this is an ongoing investigation, we are directing all further inquiries to the Bayonne Police Department.”
“It is extremely disappointing that it took so long to finally put an end to this, if this is even the end.” – Jen Zoller
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Since none of the burglaries showed signs of forced entry, police early on believed that the crimes were an “inside job,” according to a statement issued by Bayonne Police Lt. Janine Foy.
Perez allegedly had access to master keys and key fobs, which allowed access to the entire complex, including apartments, the police statement said.
The break in the case came on June 30, when Bayonne detectives recovered numerous items taken from the burglaries at a Union City pawn shop. All the jewelry recovered from the pawn shop was allegedly sold to it by Perez, according to the police statement.
The man was arrested on July 1, and his bail was set at $50,000 with a 10-percent cash option. He was remanded to the Hudson County Jail.
He was charged with the burglary and theft of an apartment reported on June 24, when he allegedly was observed entering and exiting an apartment where a wedding ring was taken, the police statement said. He was also charged with receiving stolen property from a burglary and theft reported on June 23. “Numerous pieces” of jewelry taken from that burglary were recovered from the pawn shop, according to the statement.
On July 8, he was charged with an additional five counts of receiving stolen property. Those burglaries and thefts occurred on April 5, April 11, June 11, and June 24.
How the case was solved
Onsite video from the Alexan aided in the investigation.
“The case was solved by the tireless work of detectives; canvassing, interviewing, following up on leads, and searching pawn shops throughout the county,” said Capt. Robert Geisler of the Bayonne Detective Bureau.
Investigation continuing
The value of property stolen was $135,885. The value of property recovered to date is $13,550.
The department’s investigation is continuing regarding the unsolved burglaries and thefts at the complex, and Perez is a suspect in those, the police statement said.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.