Advisory – Car Break-Ins

Newark – Sheriff Armando Fontoura today issued a reminder to local motorists that statistics reveal a car is broken into every 30 seconds somewhere across our nation.  Fontoura adds that Essex County is not exempt to that alarming statistic.

“Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in car break-ins throughout our county on local streets and at our parks and reservations,” the sheriff noted.  “Regretfully, victims have left not only personal valuables in plain sight in their cars but also the type of personal information that makes them vulnerable to identity theft.”

Typical of items left in plain view inside vehicles include wallets, purses and laptop computers.  “These items, along with vehicle registration papers and insurance cards, are what every identity thief covets.  Your credit cards, driver’s license, social security number and other personal information are the essential information thieves need to create havoc for you via identity theft.   They steal your life story then run up extravagant bills in your name or commit crimes, such as fraud, in your name.”

Also frequently left in visible sight in cars are iPOD’s in cup holders, GPS systems suctioned onto dashboards, and a few of dollars and some loose change left on center consoles for the next toll.

“Motorists should never leave wallets, handbags, backpacks or computers unattended in a parked vehicle,” Fontoura said.  “The impact of identity theft on its victims can be devastating.  Identity theft causes major issues for the victim, including financial loss, credit problems, benefit losses, legal problems if the thief is arrested and uses your personal information as his own, and the enormous amount of time it takes to fully rectify the damages made to your reputation.”

The sheriff urges all local motorists to implement target-hardening practices in respect to their vehicles.

“To prevent vehicle break-ins employ common sense techniques,” Fontoura stated.  “Roll your windows up to the top, lock your doors, park in a well-lit area and remove all valuables.  These valuables include cash, electronic equipment, papers with personal identifiers, such as mail and vehicle data.  Never leave your garage door opener in the car as this tool will give the thief access to your home.”

The sheriff adds that trying to hide these items inside your vehicle is virtually pointless.

“Once inside your car, the thief will go through your glove box and center console, flip over your floor mats and gain access to your trunk in a matter of seconds,” Fontoura added.

To further prevent car break-ins the sheriff recommends that resident report all suspicious activity, such as persons walking up and down aisles of parking lots looking into cars or trying door handles, vehicles cruising parking lots at very slow speeds for extended periods while observing parked cars and persons making any kind of mark or placing anything ON parked vehicles, to your local police or sheriff’s department.

West Side Gun Arrest

Newark – An armed suspect, arrested last night by Essex County sheriff’s officers, is scheduled for arraignment later today on multiple weapons charges.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Patrol Division were conducting quality of life operations in the area of West Side Park on Monday evening when they were flagged down on 17th Avenue by a female who stated that she had just been threatened by an armed suspect.

“The suspect, Brian Wolfe, 29 of Orange, allegedly arrived on the scene in the passenger seat of a 2004 Kia van,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “According to the victim, Wolfe brandished a handgun and threatened her with bodily harm.  Wolfe is the father of the woman’s child.”

The suspect vehicle was spotted and pulled over by the sheriff’s officers a few minutes later at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and South 12th Street.

“As our officers approached the Kia they detected the odor of marijuana,” Fontoura noted.  “As Wolfe and the driver were ordered out of the car our officers observed the handle of a fully loaded, .38 caliber Rossi revolver jammed between the front passenger seat and the center console.  Wolfe was also found to be in possession of a zip-lock bag filled with marijuana.”

Wolfe was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of illegal hollow point ammunition.  The suspect was further issued a summons for possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

A speedy bail of $100,000 was set on Wolfe who was remanded to the county jail where he awaits arraignment on Monday’s charges later today.  The driver of the Kia was not charged and released.

Reward Offered in Double Shooting Resulting in a Homicide

Newark – Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura’s Crimestoppers Program is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the double shooting that resulted in the death of 15-year old Haniyah Woods.

On September 3, 2016, Haniyah Woods, 15, of Newark was fatally shot and another female, 25, was grazed in the 100 Block of South 10th Street. Haniyah Woods, a student at West Side High School, was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is urged to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432