Burglar Steals $6K In Equipment From Montclair Film Fest: Police

MONTCLAIR, NJ — They got it back. That’s the report from the Montclair Police Department after a burglary nearly cost a local arts nonprofit $6,000 worth of expensive electronics equipment earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Montclair police released details about a burglary that recently took place at the headquarters of the Montclair Film Festival on Bloomfield Avenue. The same suspect has also been connected to other burglaries that took place in the township, authorities said.

Here’s what happened, according to the MPD:

“On March 24 at 11:02 a.m., Montclair police responded to the headquarters of the Montclair Film Festival located at 505 Bloomfield Avenue on a report of a burglary that had occurred in the past. An employee reported that upon arriving at work she observed an unsecured front door. After conducting a walk-through of the offices, it was determined that approximately $6,000 in electronic equipment had been stolen from the basement pod cast studio.”

Police said that surveillance footage taken inside and around the building shows a man entering the premises around 1:40 a.m. The man can be seen making his way to the basement, retrieving a messenger bag and filling it with various electronic equipment. He then flees the scene.

Authorities said the responding officer and investigating detectives recognized the suspect, identifying him as Max Collazo, 34, of Montclair.

Here’s what happened next, police said:

“On March 25 at approximately 10:10 a.m., detectives located Collazo at a New Jersey Transit bus stop on Bloomfield Avenue, west of Maple Avenue. Collazo was placed under arrest and transported to Montclair police headquarters.”

After further investigation, detectives linked Collazo to additional burglaries that took place on March 21 and March 22 on South Fullerton Avenue, police said.

Collazo was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree theft.

Detectives were able to recover the proceeds from the burglary to the Montclair Film Festival Headquarters, authorities added.

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