Crime & Safety

Montclair Hit By Robberies, Burglaries

A man on North Mountain encountered a stranger in his home, demanding money.

 

Over a four-day period, two people were robbed and four homes were burglarized, according to Montclair Police.

Residents reported burglaries on James Street, Prospect Avenue, Gordonhurst Avenue, and elsewhere, as well as robberies on North Mountain Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue.

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On Sept. 6, a resident on North Mountain Avenue told police he had just arrived home after 11 p.m. through the back door of his home. Once inside, he was approached by an African-American man who demanded money. The man was described as being in his late 20s, about 5'6" tall, with a muscular build. The resident said he got away with about $300 and was last seen fleeing through the back yard. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Turner at (973) 509-4727.

Two days later, another robbery was reported on Bloomfield Avenue. A woman told police she was approached by an African-American man who asked her for a cigarette. She gave it to him, but then the man tried to grab her cell phone out of her hand. He then took her purse and fled in an awaiting car. The man was described as being in his late teens or early 20s, about 5'9", and wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans. The car was described as a four-door van last seen traveling west on Glenridge Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Turned at (973) 509-4724.

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A string of four burglaries also was reported last week starting on Sept. 6.

—A man said he had arrived at his home on James Street only to find his bedroom window open and the outside screen torn. Anyone with information is asked to contact contact Det. Anderson at (973) 509-4706.

—On Sept. 8, police officers were flagged down by residents in the area of Greenwood and Claremont avenues, who told them that they'd just chased a possible burglar off their property. They said the man was trying to get inside the back of one of their homes. He was described as a tall African-American man wearing a polo-style shirt with a white stripe. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Cunningham at (973) 509-4716.

—On Sept. 9, a resident on Prospect Avenue also reported a burglary. She told police that when she returned home the night before she found the TV missing but initially believed the owner of the property may have needed it. But after contacting the owner she confirmed that the carriage house as well as the main house both had been burglarized. Police found that one of the home's window screens had been cut and pulled away from the window. The resident said a flat-screen TV, an Apple iPhone, a laptop, and $50 in cash all had been taken. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Cunningham at (973) 509-4716.

—Also on Sept. 9, a resident on Gordonhurst Avenue reported a burlgary to his garage. He said both garage doors had been closed but were not locked. Taken from the garage was a men's mountain bike valued at $499.


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