Man Broke Into Bank On Route 17, Then Claimed He Was Robbed At Dunkin Donuts: Police

PARAMUS, NJ — A 32-year-old man broke into a bank on Route 17 on Sunday, then went to a donut shop and told police he'd been robbed, police said.

Jonathan Gardner, 32, of Canastota, N.Y. was arrested by Paramus police and charged with attempted burglary, causing false public alarm, and possession of burglary tools, police said.

{UPDATE: Gardner was arrested again hours later; click here.]

The Paramus police said that on Sunday, Sept. 1, they responded to a reported armed robbery at Dunkin Donuts at 492 Route 17 North.

Gardner told police that he had been held at knifepoint and sustained a slash wound to his arm while defending himself from an attacker in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot, police said.

Officers Matt Orefice and Kevin Grady began looking around the area for the suspect involved in the reported slashing.

But police got a report of an alarm going off at the Capitol One Bank at 464 Route 17 North, they said.

Police discovered a shattered glass front door, a hammer in the vestibule, and damage to the bank's ATM.

A bank security officer provided a description of the suspect, which led officers to determine that it was Gardner.

Officer Orefice spotted Gardner at the Shell Gas Station on Route 17 North, police said.

"Gardner was found under the hood of a 2012 black Mercedes Benz with fictitious Massachusetts license plates," police said.

Orefice arrested Gardner and took him to Paramus Police headquarters for processing, police said.

Gardner was charged with:

• Criminal attempt (burglary)
• Possession of burglary tools
• Criminal mischief (two counts)
• False public alarm (two counts)

He was released on his own recognizance, police said.