Crime & Safety

Eagle-Eyed Neighbor Alerts Police To Alleged Cranford Break-In In Progress

Police arrest two Roselle juveniles in a foot chase through back yards.

A neighbor who said he became suspicious of two youths trying to enter an unoccupied house on Morse Street is being credited by police with breaking a burglary case.  

Quick-acting cops nabbed two 17-year olds from Roselle Friday afternoon, but not before they gave chase through residential back yards. 

“This case was solved first and foremost because a Cranford resident saw something out of the ordinary and didn’t hesitate to contact the police,” said Cranford Police Chief James Wozniak in a statement to the press. 

Within moments of the neighbor's call, Sgts. Christopher Polito and Anthony Dobbins, and Det. John Swandrak, swooped in on the address and said they caught two juvenile males attempting to exit the house through a rear window.

The 17-year olds gave chase through several yards but cops said they caught up with them inside a nearby garage.

Based on information provided by witnesses, Ptl. Michael Andrews located an occupied beige Mazda minivan a few blocks away.

Following an investigation at the scene, the driver of that vehicle, Gina Tedesco, 26, of Roselle NJ, was placed under arrest in connection with the burglary.

Police said they also recovered items in that vehicle which they suspect may be from a different Cranford burglary reported on February 18. 

Tedesco was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of receiving stolen property. 

Both males, age 17 from Roselle, were charged with three counts of burglary and one count each of criminal mischief, theft and resisting arrest.

All three suspects were processed and released from police custody pending court proceedings.

An arrest is not a conviction, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. 


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