Readers in Montclair have emailed requests for this paper to run the police blotter.
Here is today's. This may not be a regular feature of this paper, but over 100 emails sent in asking for it.
Shoplifting
On 5/13/11 at approximately 1:20 PM, police responded to the CVS on Claremont Avenue on a report of a shoplifter who had fled the store. Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee who stated that he was in the security room when he observed a female placing skin lotions and toothpastes inside a plastic bag. The employee confronted the female, who reportedly stated that she had no intention of paying for the items. The employee attempted to escort the female to the store’s break room to await arrival of the police, but the woman fled the store and was last seen riding a bicycle south on Pine Street.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned black female, twenty-five to thirty years old, with short, dark-colored, curly hair. She was last seen wearing a brown sweat suit.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Theft Attempt
On 5/14/11 at approximately 5:35 AM, police responded to the 200 block of Upper Mountain Avenue on a report of an attempted car theft. Police spoke to the complainant, who stated that he had observed an individual on his property attempting to gain entry to his BMW 750.
The complainant told police that he was awake and near a window in his residence on that date at approximately 5:25 AM, when he noticed a light-colored vehicle stop in front of the bushes in front of his house. A male exited this vehicle and walked towards the victim’s vehicle, pulling the door handle to the BMW. The victim then banged on the window, which alerted the suspect, who ran and hid behind a tree before jumping into the passenger’s side of the waiting vehicle, which was being driven by a suspect only described as a black male.
The suspect who attempted to gain entry to the BMW is described as a dark-skinned black male, 5’10”-6’0”, approximately 160 lbs., with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and a black head rag.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-509-7543.
Theft
On 5/14/11 at approximately 4:00 PM, police responded to Norwood Avenue in Upper Montclair on a report of a theft. The victim stated that she left her house on 5/13/11 at approximately 7:30 AM. When she returned that night at approximately 8:30 PM, she noticed that two hanging pots of flowers, valued at $25 each, had been stolen from the awning outside her front door. There are no suspects at this time.
Arrest
On 5/14/11 at approximately 7:45 PM, police were patrolling the area of North Fullerton Parking Deck when they observed a male later identified as Gregory Christmas drinking an alcoholic beverage on the first floor of the parking deck. Christmas reportedly supplied officers with a driver’s license as his identification as was issued a summons for violating a township ordinance prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public. He was then transported to his residence.
After being dropped off, Christmas called 911 four times in approximately seven minutes, stating that police had kept possession of his credentials. Christmas was advised that these repeated calls were a misuse of the emergency telephone system, but Christmas demanded that the officer meet with him in the area of Walnut Street and Park Street. Police responded there and found that Christmas was in possession of his credentials, specifically the driver’s license supplied to police earlier. Christmas was then sent on his way.
At approximately 8:40, Christmas again called 911, demanding that his credentials be returned to him. Police then responded to his residence on Walnut Street and placed him under arrest. Christmas, 62, of Montclair, was charged with Placing a False Call to a 911 Emergency Telephone System. Bail was set at $15,000.
Theft
On 5/15/11 at approximately 11:50 AM, police responded to St. James Church on Valley Road in Upper Montclair on a report of a theft. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant, who is a congregation member who was serving as a money counter for church collections. The victim stated that on that date at approximately 11:40 AM, he was counting money in the church’s finance office when a male entered the office and stated that he wanted to join the congregation. The male was pointed to the director’s office and left the finance office. A short time later, the male came back into the finance office, grabbed $115 from money that was being counted and ran out of the church. The complainant pursued the suspect, who fled south on Valley Road and east on Cooper Avenue, where the complainant lost sight of him.
The suspect is described as a white male with olive complexion, approximately 5’10”, medium build, in his late twenties to early thirties. He was last seen wearing glasses, a white shirt with brown pinstripes and khaki pants.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Charles Cunningham at 973-509-4716.
Theft
On 5/15/11 at approximately 8:10 PM, police responded to Merit Fine Wines & Liquor on Bloomfield Avenue on a report of a theft of a donation box. Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee, who reported that she was in the establishment behind the counter when a white male entered the store. Upon entering the store, the male immediately grabbed a donation box from the front counter, exited the store, and ran west on Bloomfield Avenue towards Midland Avenue. The employee then notified her co-worker, who jumped over the counter and pursued the suspect. The employee told police that the suspect jumped into the driver’s seat of a black Lexus that was parked in front of Jinx Proof Tattoo and Body Piercing on Midland Avenue. The vehicle was last seen fleeing north.
The suspect is described as a white male in his mid to late 20s, approximately 180 lbs., 5’10”, and last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt and carrying a book bag.
The complainant reports that the donation box contained approximately three hundred dollars and was intended for the family of James Wilson, who was murdered at the Chestnut Wine and Liquor in West Orange on April 22nd.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.
Burglary Attempt
On 5/15/11 at approximately 9:50 PM, police responded to an apartment on Pine Street on a report of an attempted burglary. Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee of the building who directed them to the first floor maintenance room. This room stores a drop box that is used to deposit rent payments. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that the door contained two pry marks. The lock box also appeared to have been opened, with another two pry marks surrounding the lock. The employee reported that she noticed the pry marks after receiving a call from the alarm company advising her of alarm activation in the room. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Theft from a Motor Vehicle
On 5/16/11 at approximately 6:40 AM, police responded to New Street on a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant, who stated that he parked his Ford E250 on the street at midnight. When he returned to the vehicle six hours later, he discovered the sliding side door of the vehicle opened. The victim stated that the lock to the door had been malfunctioning and that the vehicle may have not been secured properly prior to the theft.
The victim reports that a Husky Compressor valued at $150, a Mikita impact drill valued at $170, a Mikita hammer drill valued at $170, Mikita drill bits valued at $70, a Sthil demo saw valued at $1,000, and a Dewalt impact drill valued at $250, had been stolen from the vehicle. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Motor Vehicle Theft
On 5/16/11 at approximately 1:45 PM, police received a report of a motor vehicle theft. The victim, a Newark resident, stated that he parked his Acura TL on Mission Street on 5/15/11 at approximately 12:30 PM. When he returned to the area on the 16th at approximately 6:30 AM, he discovered that the vehicle was missing. There are no suspects at this time.
