This just in from the Montclair Police:
Armed Robbery
On 4/26/11 at approximately 3:10 AM, police responded to the Erie Saloon on Depot Square on a report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, police spoke to the caller, a Lyndhurst female employed by the establishment. The caller stated that she was at the bar, closing up, and counting her tips when she heard a knock on the front door of the bar. She walked towards the door and observed a short black female wearing a purple top. This female asked the employee to use the bathroom and was allowed to enter the business for this purpose. The employee then walked back to the area of the bar to finish counting her tips.
After a few minutes, the employee heard someone call for her. When she turned around, she saw a male wearing a black ski mask and a New York Yankees baseball cap. The male proceeded to point a black handgun at the employee and ordered her to open the cash register and remove the till. The employee was then ordered into a walk-in cooler, where she was to count to two hundred. After counting, she hollered out to see if the suspect was still in the bar. She further stated that once she saw the suspect, she did no longer see the female who had entered to use the bathroom. Once she believed that the suspects had left the establishment, she exited the cooler and notified the police. The employee reported that an undetermined amount of cash was taken from the register.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ricky Singleton at 973-509-4722.
Assault
On 4/26/11 at approximately 3:20 PM, police responded to the area of Pine Street and Glenridge Avenue on a report of an assault. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim, a twenty-nine year old East Orange resident, who stated that he had been in the area hanging flyers when a female passed him pushing a baby carriage. When the woman passed by, the victim asked the woman, “Is that my baby?” The victim stated that he did not know the woman and intended his comment to be a joke. The female replied, “No,” and continued walking.
The victim reported that several seconds later, he was approached by a male who asked what he had said to the female with the baby carriage. After a brief argument, the suspect proceeded to punch the victim in the left side of the face. The victim suffered a cut to the lip as a result of the assault. The suspect is described only as black male last seen wearing a white shirt and black pants. The suspect stated that he chased the suspect after the assault, pursuing him north on Pine Street before losing sight of him in the area of Claremont Avenue.
Burglary
On 4/25/11 at approximately 12:20 PM, police responded to a single-family residence on Madison Avenue on a report of a burglary. The victim told police that the residence is being renovated and he is staying in a guest house on the property. At approximately 10:00 PM on the 24th, he noticed that he had lost water pressure in the guest house.
It was later discovered that the suspect had entered the basement through a door that had been nailed shut. It is believed that the suspect forced this door open and stole approximately thirty feet of copper piping. A hammer, duffle bag, a pipe cutter, and several pieces of copper pipe were found on scene, presumably left by the suspect. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.
Suspicious Activity
On 4/25/11 at approximately 3:15 PM, police responded to a multi-family residence on Sherman Street on a report of a possible burglary in progress. Upon arrival, police spoke to the caller, who stated that she resides in a nearby building and that the targeted building was not supposed to be occupied. The caller then said that she was exiting her property when she noticed the shadow of a person inside the residence on Sherman Street.
Police searched the multi-family residence, but did not locate any suspects inside. There are no suspects at this time. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lieutenant Scott Buehler at 973-509-4714.
Burglary
On 4/25/11 at approximately 3:55 PM, police received a report of a burglary that occurred at Mountain Wall Massage Works on Valley Road in Upper Montclair. An employee told police that the establishment had been burglarized on 4/23/11, with a watch and ring reported as stolen. A review of surveillance footage identified a possible suspect as a heavyset black male, approximately 6’0”, wearing a dark-colored leather jacket, blue jeans, and boots.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Charles Cunningham at 973-509-4716.
Theft from a Motor Vehicle
On 4/26/11 at approximately 7:15 AM, police responded to Orange Road on a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. The victim told police that he had parked his Chrysler Town and Country minivan in his driveway on 4/25/11 at approximately 7:00 PM. The victim returned to the vehicle the following morning at approximately 7:10 AM, and discovered that someone had entered the vehicle and stolen the car stereo, which was valued at approximately $2,000.
The vehicle had been locked prior to the incident. Police discovered damage to the driver’s side door handle and it appeared as though the handle had been pried in order to gain entry to the vehicle. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Arrest
On 4/26/11 at approximately 8:10 AM, police responded to the East Orange Police Department to take custody of a 31 year old man from East Orange. The suspect was placed under arrest after it was confirmed that he had warrants out of Montclair totaling $2,872.85. He was also found to have a warrant out of West Orange, with bail set at $2,500.
Theft
On 4/26/11 at approximately 7:30 PM, police responded to the New York Sports Club on Church Street on a report of a theft. The victim, a Little Falls resident, stated that he arrived at the business on that date at approximately 6:30 PM and placed his belongings inside a locker. He secured the locker with a lock and returned to the locker room approximately forty-five minutes later. Upon approaching the locker, he noticed that a different lock was on the locker. He notified management, who cut the lock. Upon opening the locker, the victim discovered that his wallet, which contained $30 and various identification cards, had been stolen. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
OK, where do I start on this holdup?
First of all , you never leave one employee to count out a register at closing time. Next, opening up the door alone for a random person knocking on the door at 3am. Next, the accusation that someone with a Yankee cap would hold up a bar is ludicrous, who are you kidding, they make enough money already and plus they are in the middle of a home stand playing on consecutive nights. They don’t have time for that nonsense.
The whole thing is rather “eerie.”
Well first of all the Erie Saloon does not have more than one employee at a time on any given night past 10pm so there is the first problem. That Yankee hat joke was just not funny at all.
I agree with Herb…there should be more than one person there at closing time. And yes, don’t open the door to anyone, unless you’re expecting someone.