3 Men And Teen Burglarized 4 Bergen County Homes On 1 Day, Prosecutors Say

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Three men and a teen have been charged with four burglaries and burglary attempts in Bergen County on one morning last year, prosecutors say.

Jason Amador, 18, of Newark, Rahiem Maldonado, 22, of Newark, Altamir Thornton, 23, of Newark, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Woodbridge have been charged in the break-ins and attempts — which occurred in four different towns — said Bergen County prosecutors last week.

Four Towns

Prosecutors say that just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Englewood Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a home on Chestnut Street. A resident heard someone in the house, and the security alarm went off.

The person saw the suspects flee in a dark-colored vehicle, police said.

Then, about 20 minutes later, Cresskill Police responded to a burglary in progress at a private home on Devonshire Road, prosecutors said.

A review of surveillance camera footage showed three people at a rear window using a crowbar to remove the screen, prosecutors said. A dark-colored sport utility vehicle was seen fleeing.

Then, around 2:11 a.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to an attempted burglary at a home on Marion Lane, proecutors said.

The resident reported hearing a suspicious noise and saw three people flee. Surveillance video showed three people entering a rear yard, carrying a crow bar. They left in a dark sport utility vehicle.

At 2:45 a.m., the Tenafly Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a home on Knoll Road in Tenafly.

Similarly, the resident reported being awakened by their burglar alarm. They discovered an open window.

Video again showed three people entering the rear yard with a crow bar. They tried to get in through several windows, and eventually opened one, but the alarm went off.

And then, at approximately 3:43 a.m., the Englewood Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a home on Chestnut Street. Police saw at least three people on video forcing entry through a window, they said.

An investigation pointed to the four suspects.

Maldonado and Thornton were arrested soon after the burglary, but the other two suspects were arrested on April 25, prosecutors said.

Maldonado and Thornton remain in jail. They were charged with first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, four counts of second-degree residential burglary, second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, and third-degree theft by unlawful taking. They await trial, prosecutors said.

Amado, who was arrested in late April, has been charged with first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, four counts of second-degree residential burglary, second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, and third-degree theft by unlawful taking. He was taken to the Bergen County jail.

The 17-year-old male was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically four counts of second-degree residential burglary, and theft by unlawful taking. He was taken to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center to await further court proceedings, prosecutors said.

“The work of the Crime Reduction Task Force directly contributes to enhancing the safety and quality of life for all residents of Bergen County” said Prosecutor Mark Musella. “By targeting organized criminal activity, we aim to prevent future crimes and foster the safest possible environment for our neighborhoods and towns in New Jersey’s most populated county.”