Man Charged In String Of Bergen County Car Burglaries: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Bronx man has been charged with a string of car burglaries that took place in Bergen County over three days earlier this month, police said Monday.

Edward Rutledge, 22, was charged was eight counts of third-degree burglary to a vehicle, said Teaneck Police Chief Andrew McGurr.

Police said that on June 2, the Teaneck Police Department received multiple reports of vehicles being burglarized in the central part of town.

An investigation determined that someone targeted six cars from June 1 through early on June 2.

On June 5, the police got a report of two more vehicles being burglarized in the northern part of town. Investigators determined that the same person was involved.

The investigations were then assigned to the Teaneck Police Department Anti-Crime Unit.

Detectives conferred with members of the Nutley Police Department, who had video of a recent burglary in their jurisdiction, police said.

"The video depicted an individual later identified as Rutledge wearing clothing and footwear consistent with the suspect captured in surveillance footage obtained during the Teaneck investigation," Teaneck police said.

Police filed an arrest warrant on June 5.

On June 8, members of the Hackensack Police Department were investigating a separate vehicle burglary and encountered Rutledge, Teaneck police said.

At that time, Rutledge initially provided false identifying information, police said, but they were able to confirm who he was.

Rutledge was also charged in the Hackensack investigation.

He was arrested by Teaneck police and later transferred to the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, police said.

McGurr wanted to remind residents to "remain vigilant and report suspicious activity immediately."

The police said in a release, "Simple preventative measures, including locking vehicles, removing valuables from plain view, and securing homes and property, remain effective ways to reduce the opportunity for these types of crimes."

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any other criminal activity is asked to contact the Teaneck Police Department at 201-837-2600 or Bergen County Crime Stoppers. Tips may be submitted anonymously and confidentially through bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest.