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Woman Foils Suspected Auto Thief in South Orange
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 • 11:28am
A roundup of SOPD activity: Police arrested a 38-year-old Orange resident on charges of attempted burglary of a vehicle after a resident spotted him in her vehicle.
The Turrell Avenue resident told police she was pulling into her driveway at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Dec. 27 and saw a man inside her Ford Explorer, which was parked in the driveway. The man fled, but a police search of the area resulted in apprehension of the suspect, Vincent Thomas. Police said the woman positively identified the suspect.
Police are still searching for a man who punched his victim in the head and mouth and stole his cell phone on Dec. 27 at approximately 9:50 p.m. Police said the victim, an Irvington resident, was walking on Varsity Road when he was attacked from behind. The robber is described as a black male, about 5-feet-10, wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt. He was accompanied by two other males.
In other police news:
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One auto theft and two attempts have been reported to police. A Fairview Avenue resident told police between 7:30 p.m. and 9:21 p.m. on Dec. 27, someone stole his 1999 Volkswagen, which was parked at the corner of Fairview and Irvington avenues. A Kilburn Place resident said about 8 p.m. on Dec. 28, he saw someone attempting to steal his vehicle, which was parked in his driveway. The man fled in a waiting vehicle. The victim's driver’s side door lock and ignition were damaged. A Church Street resident said someone broke into her car, which was parked in her building parking lot, damaging the ignition. She reported the incident to police on Dec. 31.
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Unlocked vehicles were targets of thieves as well. A Finley Place resident said someone stole a women’s wallet from his unlocked vehicle, which was parked in his driveway. The theft occurred sometime overnight on Dec. 30. A Brentwood Drive resident reported a theft that occurred during the same time frame. Someone stole the owner’s manual, with the valet key, and a gym bag from the trunk. The vehicle was parked in his driveway.
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A thief targeted copper pipes in a home break-in between Dec. 23 and Dec. 27. A Finlay Place resident told police someone entered his residence, removing copper pipes from his furnace and water softener. Police also investigated a break-in on Dec. 26 on Warwick Avenue, responding to an activated alarm. Someone gained entry to the home by breaking a back-door window pane. Police did not know if any items were removed from the home.
- Bicycle thieves continue to be active. A Seton Hall Place resident reported that between Dec. 23 and Dec. 27, someone entered her garage and stole a black Nishiki Pueblo bicycle.
