Crime & Safety
Burglar Caught by Victim, Police Say
Emmanuel Bernard and Darling Alba were both charged with burglary and theft.
A Fair Lawn man caught one of two burglars who allegedly stole money, a debit card and other items from inside his car early Tuesday morning and police found the other nearby, according to Police Sgt. Brian Metzler.
Police Officer Ian Manelis and Capt. Robert Kneer were driving past 27th Street and Pellack Drive when they noticed a physical altercation outside the Chase bank on Broadway at about 2:24 a.m. Tuesday, according to Metzler.
The police separated the two and found that 23-year-old Paterson resident Emmanuel Bernard had allegedly stolen items from the other man's car, who was trying to hold Bernard down until police arrived.
Police Officers Chris O’Shaughnessy and Kenneth Cavanagh, along with a K-9 unit from the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, then caught Bernard's alleged accomplice, 22-year-old Paterson resident Darling Alba, nearby on Plaza Road at Rosalie Street.
The victim was able to identify $23.90 in cash and a debit card with his name on it allegedly found on Alba and headphones, seven pieces of jewelry, a key and another $18.94 in cash allegedly found on Bernard.
Bernard and Alba also allegedly had clothes taken from a nearby bin and had also entered another car on Banta Place. Both were charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of theft, then sent to Bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail with a 10 percent option.
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