Man Charged With 4 Burglaries In 2 Bergen County Towns: Prosecutor

PARAMUS, NJ — An Elizabeth man has been charged in connection with at least four burglaries in two Bergen County towns this year, prosecutors said Monday.

Jonnathan Diaz-Gomez, 42, was recently charged with three counts of burglary and three counts of theft, in addition to having been charged in a previous incident the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Prosecutors said that on April 27, a Saturday, just after 8:30 p.m. police responded to an attempted burglary in progress on Ehret Steet in Paramus. Police saw a vehicle idling with several people in it and one person crouching near it, prosecutors said.

"The suspects scattered upon the arrival of the Paramus police officers, and two men were taken into custody, including the driver of the vehicle," which was Diaz-Gomez, prosecutors say.

He was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of a police scanner, and possession of burglary tools. But he was released pending further action by the Bergen County Superior Court.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Reduction Task Force and Paramus Police decided to investigate further to see if there was a larger conspiracy.

They then found other crimes that fit the same pattern, prosecutors said.

Diaz-Gomez was connected to these other crimes:

• March 26: Burglary on Hickory Avenue in Paramus. Burglars entered through a first-floor window, ransacked the home, and stole valuables.
• April 7: Bogert Road, River Edge. Burglars ransacked the home and stole valuables.
• April 20: Howland Avenue, River Edge. Burglars entered the home via a first-floor kitchen window and stole a safe.

He was charged and turned himself in on Nov. 19, prosecutors said.

He was then ordered to be released pending further action by the Bergen County Superior Court, police said.