3 People Who Wanted To Burglarize Mahwah Vehicles Arrested: Cops

MAHWAH, NJ — Police arrested three people early Wednesday who came to town to burglarize unlocked vehicles, authorities said.

Jordan Dufont, 19, of Westwood, Safe Maxon, 18, of Washington Township, and a 17-year-old were each charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, said Chief Stephen Jaffe.

Officer Dan Stewart was patrolling the Paddington Square Condominium Complex at about 2:30 a.m. when he saw Maxon in a 2004 Ford Explorer lean back in her seat when she saw his patrol car, Jaffe said.

Maxon said she was there to pick up a friend who lived in the complex, and she gave police a fake home address, Jaffe said. Police found a box of latex gloves, a cell phone, which she said belonged to a friend, and Dufont's driver's license, in the vehicle.

While speaking with Maxon, police got a call from a resident in the complex who said he saw someone hiding under a deck on Cambridge Court. Police found a 17-year-old Park Ridge boy with a ski mask under the deck, Jaffe said.

Authorities then got a call from an Osborne Court resident who said a black man was knocking on her front door. The man, Dufont, asked the woman to make a phone call for him so someone could come pick him up, Jaffe said.

Police found Dufont and took him into custody. He had latex gloves and a flashlight on him, Jaffe said.

An investigation revealed that Maxon, Dufont, and the juvenile came to Mahwah to burglarize unlocked vehicles, the chief said.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Jaffe said the incident was "profound" since Mahwah police notified residents recently about attempted motor vehicle thefts and burglaries.

Police urge residents to remove valuables, keys, and key fobs from vehicles and lock them overnight.

One tell-tale sign that a luxury vehicle is unlocked are the side-view mirrors. They face in when a vehicle is locked and out when it is not.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office earlier this year warned residents about increased vehicle thefts and burglaries.

Related: Car Thefts, Burglaries On The Rise In Bergen, Prosecutor Warns

Thieves are "roaming quiet neighborhoods overnight, coming onto your property and pulling on car door handles," said Robert Anzilotti, chief of detectives for the prosecutor's office.

Police ask anyone to report suspicious activity by calling them at 201-529-1000.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com