4 SOUGHT IN HOLDUP THAT NETTED $20,000

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Saturday, January 11, 1992

The Record (New Jersey) | Two Star B | NEWS | Page A04

Four men, at least two of whom brandished handguns, robbed Midlantic National Bank-North and four customers of more than $20,000 shortly after the bank opened at 9 a.m. Friday, police said.

No one was injured in the incident.

The robbers announced the holdup as they entered the bank at 1050 Main St., Lt. Ron Starace said. A bank camera recorded images of some of the suspects, he said.

“At least two of the individuals gained access behind the counter, and money was taken from various drawers in the teller area,” Starace said.

“They then fled on foot and were last seen going over the walkover from Route 4 and River Edge to Hackensack.”

He declined to provide further details about the robbery.

Starace said Friday’s robbery appeared not to be connected to the robbery Monday of the First Fidelity Bank branch in Fort Lee because the method of operation was different. About $935 was taken from a teller by a lone gunman in that incident.

Starace said anyone who was on Main Street or in the vicinity of the Cherry Hill shopping center, the Route 4 bus stop, or the walkover from shortly before 9 a.m. to about 9:15 a.m. should contact River Edge police at 262-1233 or the FBI at 684-6614.

Names will be kept confidential, and Crime Stoppers reward money will be available, he added.

“It doesn’t matter what they saw. If they were in the area, and even thought they saw something, we want them to contact us,” Starace said.

RIVER EDGE COPS SEEK HELP ON THEFTS

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, January 6, 1991

To combat a recent wave of residential burglaries about 20 in the past six weeks borough police have turned to residents for help, asking them to be cautious and to watch for suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
Police Lt. Ron Starace said most of the burglaries, like the one on the 100 block of Kenwood Avenue about 10 p.m. Friday, occurred at night.
Starace said many of the break-ins occurred when the victims were home, but that no one had seen the burglars.
“We have to believe that there is more than one group working here, but we have very little information,” Starace said. “It’s a little difficult when you don’t know what you are looking for. “
He urged residents to call the department with any possible clues.
“Give us something to work with; give us extra eyes,” he said. “If you answer your door and you find nobody there, that’s suspicious; call us. Someone asking for directions to the home of a person unknown to you but who’s supposed to live on your block, or a delivery being made to a home where you know the neighbors are not there they are suspicious; call us. “
About five homes have been burglarized since the arrest of one suspect on Dec. 28. Starace said that on Jan. 1, a burglar ran when a resident at the 800 block of Bogen Road woke up about 11:45 p.m. and heard noises. There was another attempt at a home across the street the same night, he said.
On Dec. 28, a resident on the 100 block of Valley Road reported suspicious activities about 7 p.m. Police arrived minutes later, followed fresh footprints in the snow, and eventually arrested Marvin Jones, 25, of Englewood two blocks down the road.
Jones has been in the Bergen County Jail on $30,000 bail since his Dec. 29 arraignment on burglary and theft charges filed in River Edge and Englewood Cliffs.
Starace outlined steps that residents can take to protect their property and help police.
He said residents should take advantage of a residential sticker program to help police determine which cars belong in what neighborhoods. Residents also are advised to become familiar with cars in their neighborhoods. When they leave their homes, whether to go for a walk or on a long trip, they should ask their neighbors to watch their homes, he said.

Keywords: RIVER EDGE; POLICE; THEFT

TWO SOUGHT IN ROBBERY TRY; WOMAN PUNCHED IN FACE

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, December 9, 1990

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NORTH CENTRAL BERGEN/YOUR TOWN RECORD | Page 3

Composite drawings of suspects in an attempted robbery of a borough woman at a Discmart record store three weeks ago are being circulated in Bergen County.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the department.

The victim, who police declined to identify, gave police a description of her alleged assailant, and an eyewitness gave police a description of a man who drove the getaway car, said River Edge Police Lt. Ron Starace, chief of the detective bureau.

The incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Nov. 23 in the parking lot of the record store, off Route 4 east in River Edge, Starace said. The suspect allegedly ran up behind the woman, grabbed her pocketbook, and, when she resisted, punched her in the face several times and knocked her to the ground.

Starace said the woman suffered deep bruises to her face that required received medical treatment.

Police describe the man as Hispanic, in his early 20s, about 5 feet 5, slim to medium build, with dark brown hair shaved short on both sides. He was wearing a light blue jacket and a baseball cap.

The man then got into what witnesses said was a new, light tan-colored Ford Taurus occupied by three other Hispanic males and escaped, Starace said. The driver of the getaway car was described as a man, 26 to 30 years old, average height, bushy dark brown hair, thin mustache, and goatee.

Starace said similar incidents were reported in East Rutherford and Fort Lee the same day as the River Edge attack, with the same description of suspects and vehicle.

Anyone with information should contact the River Edge Police Department at 262-1233.

Caption: PHOTO – Police issued sketches showing the alleged driver of a getaway car, left, and the suspect in the attempted robbery of a borough woman.