Alert Resident Tips Cops to House Burglar, Police Say

Fair Lawn Police arrested an alleged burglar Thursday afternoon after a resident called to report the man was "carrying two bags and acting suspiciously," according to Sgt. Brian Metzler.

Detective Peter Yuskaitis, Detective Jeff Welsh, Police Officer Eric Eleshewich, Police Officer Nicholas Snyder and Sgt. Eric Leitman with help from Paterson Police found 38-year-old Paterson resident Osvaldo Rodriguez with a laptop computer, camera, Ipad, electronic reader, cellphone, jewelry and credit cards he allegedly stole from a First Street home, according to Metzler.

Rodriquez, who was also arrested in Paramus last month, is "a person-of-interest" in other burglary cases, according to Metzler. Fair Lawn Police held a public forum this summer after two strings of burglaries. During the forum, police offered advice for how to deter burglars and encouraged residents to report anything suspicious, like the tip that led to Thursday's arrest. Police are continuing to investigate those burglaries, according to Metzler.

Rodriguez was charged with burglary and theft. He was sent to Bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail.