5 Burglaries Reported During Power Outages Last Week

While much of Montclair remained without power from Hurricane Sandy, Montclair police reported a series of home burglaries last week. 

On Nov. 5, a Virginia Avenue home with no power was burglarized while the homeowner was staying somewhere else until the power was restored, according to police reports. 

A screen in a rear window was cut and the window was pushed open. Among the items reported missing were a CD player, desktop computer, printer, coffee maker and other electronics. 

On Nov. 7, a snowblower was taken from a home on North Fullerton Avenue. The homeowner found a basement window pushed open and tire tracks from the snowblower leading out from the basement door, according to reports. 

Additionally on Nov. 7, a generator was stolen from a garage on Edgemont Road. The generator was recently purchased, the homeowner said to police, and was valued at approximately $900. 

The homeowner told police the generator weighed nearly 200 pounds. The homeowner said multiple people must have been involved in the burglary because the generator was blocked behind parked cars in the garage. The garage door was also left open, and there were no marks left in the light snow. 

A Forest Street resident returned to his home on Nov. 8 after nearly two weeks and found his house had been broken into. According to reports, several bedrooms were ransacked. The resident reported multiple items missing, including a watch, valued at approximately $3,000; a video game console and an iPhone.  

On Nov. 9, an Elm Street home had copper piping stolen. A realtor told police no one had been living in the house since Oct. 19. The home was in poor condition and police were unsure how, or where, entry was made.