Franklin Lakes PD: Burglary Suspects Took $55K Worth of Jewelry from Tortoise Lane Home

Franklin Lakes Police say the two men arrested last week for allegedly committing over a dozen residential burglaries - including one in Franklin Lakes - took over $50,000 worth of jewelry from a Franklin Lakes home.

Daniel Gomez, 46, of Union City, and Julio Ponce, 33, of Clifton, were arrested on Feb. 11 after police say they committing over a dozen residential burglaries in River Edge, Fair Lawn, Fairfield, Totowa, Belleville, Verona, Englewood and one in Franklin Lakes on Jan. 16.

Gomez and Ponce allegedly forced open a Tortoise Lane home’s rear door between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and took $55,000 worth of jewelry, according to Detective Lieutenant John Bakelaar. The men mainly focused on the home’s first floor bedrooms.

The men were arrested in Englewood last week following a two month joint investigation comprised of detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Paramus, Rutherford, Franklin Lakes, River Edge, Fair Lawn, Englewood, Tenafly, Cliffside Park, Fairfield, Belleville, Verona and Totowa Police Departments.

Gomez was charged with one count each of burglary, theft, attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, and possession of CDS. Ponce was charged with one count each of burglary, theft, attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Bail for Ponce was set at $250,000 and $100,000 for Gomez.

Both were remanded to the Bergen County Jail.

Photo 1: Daniel Gomez

Photo 2: Julio Ponce

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• Authorities Arrest Suspects in Connection with Bergen County Home Burglaries