Suspicious Activities and A Bit of Graffiti at the Watchung Train Station

Shortly after 1 a.m. today, a Woodland Avenue resident saw a man standing in his backyard, Montclair Lt. Scott Buehler said. The resident told police, shortly before calling them, he spotted the man behind his house. When the resident went outside to find out what the man was doing in the yard, the suspect ran east through the property and is believed to have run onto Pierson Place.

Police checked the home and surrounding cars for evidence of any attempted vandalism, but found nothing. The suspect is only described as a male with a white hooded sweatshirt, black jacket and dark pants.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-509-7543.

In other police news:

On Monday morning, police received a report of vandalism at the Watchung Train Station on Park Street, Buehler said. A public works employee found graffiti in the station's waiting area that included the word "Dope" written in green paint. In the northern room, the letters "HSK" were painted in black on the wall and in another corner of the room, "HSK," "Dope," "Tears," and "F... 5-0" were painted in black.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4733.

Also on Monday, at about 8:25 p.m., a Sutherland Road resident called police after hearing someone loudly pushing and pulling on the front door of her house, Buehler said. She did not look out her window or see any other activity, but she believes someone was trying to get inside her house. Police checked around the outside of the home and didn't find any damage or evidence of further suspicious activity.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-509-7543.