Police Blotter: Shoplifting, Stolen UPS Packages

May 23: West Orange police are investigating the theft of a UPS package from a Bayowski Road home. Police said the homeowner called UPS at 4:14 p.m. looking for the package — containing contact lenses worth $176.36 — and was told the package had been delivered May 14 and left at the front door, but the package could not be found.

May 23: A Zeppi Lane homeowner told police someone signed for and stole a delivered UPS package containing an $800 sound system from her front porch between 12:19 p.m. and 1 p.m. The homeowner said she contacted UPS on May 4 because she never received the package and has been in contact with the UPS claims department and their insurance company.

May 24: Richard Burwell, 42, of East Orange was arrested for shoplifting after store security from the CVS Pharmacy at 12 S. Valley Road saw him walking through the store and placing items in his backpack before trying to exit the store without paying for them.

Store security stopped Burwell without incident and turned him over to West Orange police. Inside his backpack was $124 worth of items including Tylenol, Nyquil and deodorant.

While Burwell was being processed, police discovered he had an outstanding warrant from the city of Orange for $500. He was released pending a municipal court appearance on Thursday.

May 24: A Shepard Terrace resident told police two flower vases worth $200 and approximately four feet high, were stolen from the front of her house on May 23 and May 24 between 6 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The homeowner also said she has an ongoing problem with other tenants in the home.

May 24: Cedric Honeyblue, 46, of Orange was arrested for shoplifting at the CVS Pharmacy at 12 S. Valley Road after store security said he stole several items and left the store without paying for them.

Store security said they saw Honeyblue take the items on store security cameras and stopped him as he tried to leave on a bicycle. After searching Honeyblue, security found $154.90 worth of items including razor blades and Visine.

Honeyblue was processed and released pending a municipal court appearance on Thursday.

May 25: West Orange police are investigating an incident where a car, described as a white 1997 Ford Explorer, left the scene of an accident at 41 Washington St. at 4:36 a.m. and left behind a license plate.

May 25: A West Orange resident reported someone stole a GPS, valued at $200, two jackets, totaling $100 and a backpack, valued at $40, from a 2010 Toyota station wagon unlocked and parked in the driveway of a Watson Avenue home between May 24 at 11 p.m. and May 25 at 5 a.m.

May 25: West Orange police are investigating an incident on Hillside Terrace where a small object, perhaps a rock, broke the rear window of a 2008 Ford Edge between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The homeowner said the car, owned by her husband, might have had the windows broken by landscapers working in the area, but police are unsure. After a search, police were unable to find any suspects.

May 27: West Orange police are investigating the theft of two cell phones from the Ginny Duenkel Pool at 79 William St.

In the first incident, a woman said she was sitting at a table at the pool between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. when she turned her head to watch her children. When she turned back around, she said her Apple iPhone, valued at $199, was taken.

In the second incident between 3 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., a man said someone stole his Blackberry Curve valued at $199, from a table by the pool.

Police have no suspects in either incident.

May 27:  A West Orange police officer arrested Alexander Martinez, 31, of Orange after seeing Martinez shredding a copper cleaning pad above a garbage can on the southeast corner of Washington Street and Watchung Avenue at 7:48 p.m.

The officer said shredded copper from Chore Boy pads is often used as a filter in glass pipers used for smoking crack cocaine.

The officer then interviewed Martinez, who admitted he was on his way to buy drugs. Martinez also agreed to let the officer search him and police then discovered Ziploc baggies containing what it is believed to be crack cocaine.

Officers also found a glass pipe on Martinez’s bicycle while loading it into the trunk of the police car.

Martinez was taken to headquarters and charged with possession of a controlled-dangerous substance as well as use or being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.