Two Captured in Englewood Cliffs Home Invasion, Car Chase [UPDATE]

by Noah Cohen and James Kleimann

Two men were arrested and three others remain at large following a pursuit on Route 4 and home invasion robbery that left a woman injured in Englewood Cliffs Thursday, police said.

A resident in her 60s was thrown down a flight of stairs when three assailants pushed their way inside a borough home, first claiming to be PSE&G workers checking a gas leak around 1:15 p.m., Englewood Cliffs Police Chief Michael Cioffi said.

The robbers grabbed cash and jewelry before fleeing from the home, near Leighton Street and Mercer Avenue. Neighbors noticed something suspicious and alerted borough police, Cioffi said.

As officers arrived, the crew took off in two getaway cars, one described as a white Altima and the other a black Dodge sedan, the chief told Patch. The Dodge led cops on a chase through Fort Lee, struck a car and got on Route 4 toward Englewood while the Infiniti managed to elude police.

Officers caught up with the Dodge when it crashed into a curb and blew out a tire on South Van Brunt Street, near the 4 West Diner, authorities said. Two men in the Dodge were captured while another escaped.

Englewood Cliffs Sgt. James Tracy nabbed one of the fleeing suspects near a gym off Route 4 and an Englewood officer arrested the second at an area warehouse, police said.

Investigators at the crash scene recovered a handgun along with stolen jewelry and cash, authorities confirmed.

Cioffi said the Altima had a partial New York license plate of GBR. Police had not yet identified the men in custody, who were not carrying identifications, he said.

Police from nearby departments including Fort Lee, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Leonia and Teaneck assisted in the search. A Bergen County Police K-9 was also brought in to track the assailants and sniff for evidence. The South Van Brunt Street exit ramp was blocked while sheriff’s investigators processed the scene.

Anyone with information on the case can call Englewood Cliffs police at 201-569-8300.