Six-Month Burglary Investigation Solves 42 Burglaries in Essex County, Elsewhere

As a result of a six-month long joint burglary investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and a multi-jurisdictional task force have solved more than 40 residential burglaries in Bergen County and have arrested the five men they say are responsible.

“Following a series of daytime residential burglaries in Bergen County and surrounding areas, detectives from the affected areas met and shared information about their respective burglaries,” Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said. “As a result, suspects were developed and a multi-jurisdictional task force was formed.”

The first arrests came on Feb. 10 when Daniel Gomez, 46, of Union City, and Julio Ponce, 33, of Clifton, were arrested after a two-month joint investigation comprised of detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Paramus, Rutherford, Franklin Lakes, River Edge, Fair Lawn, Englewood, Tenafly, Cliffside Park, Fairfield, Belleville, Verona and Totowa Police Departments, saw the two men “case” possible homes to burglarize in Englewood and Tenafly.

Further evidence revealed that the men were responsible for committing over a dozen residential burglaries in the following jurisdictions: River Edge (2 homes), Fair Lawn (1 home), Franklin Lakes (1 home), Fairfield (4 homes), Totowa (1 home), Belleville (1 home), Verona (1 home), Englewood (1 home), as well as an attempted burglary.

Gomez wass charged with one count each of burglary, theft, attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, and possession of CDS. Ponce was charged with one count each of burglary, theft, attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Then on Feb. 17, authorities arrested John Cando, 38, of North Bergen - who detectives had been watching for several weeks - after the laptop he allegedly stole from an Upper Saddle River home was traced back to a home in Paramus, where another suspect lived.

Authorities executed a search warrant on the Fairview Avenue home and “identified and recovered numerous items suspected to be stolen property from other burglaries committed in and around Bergen County,” Molinelli said.

Police also found controlled dangerous substances, drug paraphernalia and three stolen firearms from a Washington Township burglary.

Cando was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

The last suspects, Michael Puig, 25, of Fairview Avenue in Paramus, and Gino Manna, 34, of Paterson were arrested the same day by Paramus and South Hackensack police officers.

“In all, through the aforementioned investigations and the execution of various search warrants, detectives have identified and recovered hundreds of items of suspected stolen proceeds including guns, jewelry, electronics, collectables, antique coins, cell phones and a safe,” Molinelli said. “This is one of the largest recoveries of stolen proceeds in recent years.”

Detectives have linked the individuals to approximately 42 residential burglaries committed in various jurisdictions, including: Allendale, Englewood, Franklin Lakes, Fairfield, Fair Lawn, Hillsdale, Mahwah, Nutley, Oakland, Oceanport, Old Tappan, Parsippany, Pearl River (NY), Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Tinton Falls, Totowa, Verona, Waldwick, Washington Township and Woodcliff Lake.

The investigation is continuing as detectives attempt to locate the owners of the recovered items. Additional charges from other jurisdictions are anticipated.

Pictured - top row: Daniel Gomez, Julio Ponce; middle row: John Cando, Michael Pulg; bottom: Gino Manna.

Related story:

• Authorities Arrest Suspects in Connection with Bergen County Home Burglaries