Bike Thieves Getting Craftier By The Minute

A rash of bike thefts marked this past week in Montclair and, if the police reports are any indication, bike thieves are getting craftier by the minute. For example, on Sunday, July 18 at about 7:35 p.m., police responded to a residence on South Willow Street on a report of a bicycle theft in progress. While en route, police were notified that the suspect, later identified as Dharadas Baijnath, 61, of Montclair, was walking south on South Willow Street. According to the caller, Baijnath had attempted to break the lock that was securing a bicycle to a street sign on South Willow Street using a hammer and a screwdriver. Upon locating Baijnith, police found that he was in possession of the screwdriver and hammer. Baijnith was placed under arrest and charged with criminal attempt and possession of burglary tools. Bail was set at $15,000.

Yet Montclair is still not the No. 1 city in America when it comes to bike thefts. That honor goes to Philadelphia, followed by Chicago, and New York City.

Meanwhile, here is the rest of the police blotter, just in from Lieutenant Scott Buehler at the Montclair Police Department.

Burglary Attempt 

            On 7/16/10 at approximately 12:50 p.m., police responded to a property maintained by the Union Baptist Church on Portland Place on a report of a burglary attempt. According to the complainant, sometime between approximately 12:25 a.m. and approximately 11:00 a.m. on July 16 someone kicked in one of the building's rear doors. Damage to the door is estimated at $100. In addition, pry marks were found to the door of an unoccupied second floor apartment. It does not appear that entry was gained to the apartment. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.

Theft

            On 7/16/10 at approximately 5:15 p.m., police received a report of a theft from the Radio Shack in Lackawanna Plaza. A Montclair resident stated that at approximately 4:45 p.m., she was in the establishment when she placed her Fossil brand watch on the counter of the store. After conducting some business, she left the store and a few minutes later realized that she had forgotten her watch in the store. She was unable to locate the watch when she returned to the store. The complainant reported that there were other patrons in the store when she left her watch. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lieutenant Scott Buehler at 973-509-4714.

Theft from a Motor Vehicle

            On 7/16/10 at approximately 10:00 p.m., police received a report of a theft from a motor vehicle from a Montclair resident. The victim stated that he parked his convertible Chrysler Sebring in the area of Bloomfield Avenue and North Willow Street on 7/16/10 at approximately 9:40 p.m. When he returned to the vehicle approximately ten minutes later, he discovered that his iPod, valued at $299, iPod charger, valued at $25 and registration card had been stolen from the locked center console of his vehicle. The complainant lists a black male, approximately thirty to forty years old, 6'0", thin build with a short beard and short hair as a possible suspect. This male individual was observed in the area of the vehicle after the victim gave him two cigarettes and fifty cents. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.

Burglary Attempt

            On 7/17/10 at approximately 2:35 a.m., police responded to a single family residence on Midland Avenue on a report of an attempted burglary. The complainant stated that, minutes before, she was awakened by the sound of her dog barking on the residence's first floor. When she went downstairs to investigate, she discovered that one of the screens to a window had been tampered with, having been partially opened. Entry was not gained to the residence. There are no suspects at this time.

Burglary

            On 7/17/10 at approximately 10:45 a.m., police responded to a single family residence on Park Street on a report of a burglary. The victims state that the house was burglarized sometime between midnight and 10:00 a.m. on that date, with entry possibly gained through an unlocked door. Proceeds included $340, which was taken from wallets left in the kitchen. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Charles Cunningham at 973-509-4716.

Shoplifting Arrest

            On 7/17/10 at approximately 10:50 a.m., police were dispatched to CVS on Claremont Avenue on a report of a shoplifting. According to the caller, the suspect was still in the store and had been observed placing a disposable camera inside his back pack. Upon locating the suspect inside the store, police located the camera, valued at $12.19, in his back pack. The suspect, identified as Khalif Parker, 18, of Montclair, was placed under arrest. He was charged with shoplifting and later released.

Burglary Attempt

            On 7/17/10 at approximately 12:15 p.m., police responded to the Villa Victoria Pizzeria on Park Street on a report of a burglary attempt. The caller stated that someone had vandalized the rear door to his business that is located adjacent to the North Fullerton Parking Deck sometime after approximately 12:15 a.m. on 7/17/10. The damage consisted of pry marks to the bottom of the door, with the plastic weather guard and rubber molding removed from the same door. There are no suspects at this time.

Warrant Arrest

            On 7/18/10 at approximately 4:55 p.m., police responded to Starbucks on South Park Street on a report of an individual who was harassing customers. According to witnesses, the male, later identified as Anthony Catanzaro Jr., 60, of Little Falls, had made a purchase in the Starbucks earlier. Over the next hour, Catanzaro reportedly became loud and disruptive and was asked to leave the store. Upon leaving, Catanzaro reportedly began harassing customers who were entering the Starbucks. Catanzaro was placed under arrest when it was learned that he had a warrant out of Trenton, with bail set at $3500 and a warrant out of Montclair, with bail set at $100. He was also issued a summons for disorderly conduct.

Theft from a Motor Vehicle 

            On 7/19/10 at approximately 12:15 p.m., police were dispatched to Christopher Street on a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. According to the victim, three vehicles were entered sometime between 8:00 p.m. on July 18 and 11:30 a.m. on July 19. All three vehicles were parked were parked in the rear of the property's driveway and the complainant believes that all three vehicles were inadvertently left unlocked. Taken from a Ford Transit Connect van was a Garmin GPS, valued at $300. Taken from a Land Rover LR3 was an iPod Classic, valued at $400. Taken from a Mini Cooper was a Garmin GPS valued at $300, a wallet valued at $100 that contained $1000 in cash and various credit and identification cards. There are no suspects at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.

Bicycle Theft

            On 7/19/10, police received a report of a stolen bicycle from a Montclair resident. According to the victim, he left his bicycle in the rear lot behind Just Jake's adjacent to the Maple Plaza Lot on 7/17/10 at approximately 10:30 p.m. When he returned to the area on 7/18/10 at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 19, he discovered that the bicycle was missing. The bike, described as a Mongoose Mountain Bike with polished chrome and valued at $277, had been left unsecured prior to the theft. There are no suspects at this time.

Bicycle Theft 

            On 7/19/10 at approximately 4:15 p.m., police responded to Franklin Place on a report of a stolen bicycle that had occurred ten to fifteen minutes prior. According to the victim, his son rode his bicycle to a friend's house on Franklin Place and left it on the sidewalk while he went inside. Approximately ten minutes later, he was outside and noticed two males pass his residence riding what appeared to be his son's bicycle. He then walked to where his son left the bicycle and confirmed that it was missing. The first male is described as a shirtless, thin, and lanky black male. The second male was described similarly, but with a "Mohawk" haircut. Both males appeared to be juveniles.

         The bicycle is described as a red Mongoose bicycle, valued at $120, with glow in the dark skull stickers along the frame. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4733.

 Theft

            On 7/19/10 at approximately 5:00 p.m., police responded to a single family residence on Melrose Place on a report of a theft. The complainant stated that a large clay flower pot was stolen from in front of her sidewalk sometime between 11:00 p.m. on July 18 and 10:00 a.m. on July 19. The estimated value of the flower pot is $400. There are no suspects at this time.

Theft

            On 7/19/10 at approximately 5:40 p.m., police responded to a single family residence on Warman Street on a report of a theft. The complainant stated that sometime since May, three Verizon Fios cable boxes and a car vacuum were stolen from her garage. The complainant stated that her garage door is occasionally left open. There are no suspects at this time.

Theft from a Motor Vehicle

            On 7/19/10 at approximately 5:55 p.m., police were dispatched to Columbus Avenue on a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. The caller stated that sometime between 10:00 p.m. on July 18 and 6:00 a.m. on July 19, an Apple iPod, valued at $300, was stolen from the center console of a Volkswagen Jetta that had been parked in the rear of his residence. The vehicle may have been left unlocked prior to the theft. There are no suspects at this time.

Warrant Arrest

            On 7/15/10, Montclair Police assumed custody of Aaron Volkerts from the Rutherford Police Department. Volkerts, 25, of East Orange had an outstanding warrant out of Montclair, with bail set at $500. Volkerts was also found to have warrants out of East Orange (with bail set at $150) and Paterson (with bail set at $140).