Borough Police Investigated Easter Bunny Thefts, Vandalism and Fraud This Week

Borough police investigated two Easter Bunny-related thefts last weekend after residents reported Easter decorations being stolen from their yards.

Police said they responded to a report on Saturday at about 11 a.m. that a three-foot tall white lighted rabbit in front of a Hillside Avenue home had been stolen. Police said the resident who reported the theft said the rabbit was one of two rabbits on her lawn. It was valued at $15.

Later that day—at about 3 p.m.—police responded to another Easter Bunny theft on Kings Road. Police said they met with a resident there who said her inflatable bunny was stolen from in front of her home on Edgehill Avenue March 31, and said that while driving down Kings Road on Saturday, she saw what appeared to be the bunny stolen from her house.

But police said they determined the Kings Road bunny was not the bunny stolen from Edgehill Avenue.

The bunny was valued at $25.

In other borough police news:

- Police found six juveniles, ages 15 to 16, at about 9 p.m. on Friday by Milton Pond with a 30-pack of beer.

Police said the juveniles were later released into the custody of a parent or guardian, and the beer was confiscated and placed into evidence. The investigation has been turned over to Detective Jeffrey Battiloro, who is the department's juvenile officer, for disposition.

- Police investigated a report of broken beer bottles and a broken wooden table at a Chatham Middle School field to the field at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Police said School District of the Chathams Superintendent Jim O'Neill reported broken glass bottles of Old English beer near the west end of the field and broken bottles on the bleachers on the north end of the field.  Police also said a wooden picnic table near the north end of the field, valued at about $150, was broken into pieces.

The case remains under investigation.

- Police investigated a report of a stolen screen from a second floor bedroom window at about 4 p.m. on Saturday on Ellers Drive.

Police said they did not find the screen on the property, but said that while interviewing the girl who lives in the bedroom, she admitted to removing the screen a week ago and placing it on the ground in front of the house. She said she did not know where it had gone.

The screen was valued at $60.

- Police investigated a report at about noon on Monday that a Commerce Street business had been issued a bad check.

Police said the business reported they had received a $195 check for a provided service, but said the check was returned because of insufficient funds in the account. Police said that the victim said they had unsuccessfully attempted to have the debt repaid.

The incident remains under investigation.

- Charles P. Donofrio, 40, of Wayne, was arrested by borough police at about 1 p.m. on Monday and charged with forgery and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Police said they responded to a Main Street bank to investigate charges that a fradulent check worth $20,500 was passed to the bank. Upon arriving, they met with bank representatives, who identified Donofrio as the suspect. Donofrio was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters for processing.

Borough Justice Vincent McMann issued an arrest warrant for the charges. Donofrio was incarcerated in the Morris County Correctional Facility after he was unable to post $2,500 bail.  

- Lucas Demattos, 18, of Union, was arrested by borough police at about 9 p.m. Tuesday on an active warrant issued by the municipality of Lyndhurst.

Police said they initiated a motor vehicle stop on Main Street after they observed a 2008 Nissan driven by Demattos had no front license plate. A customary check revealed the Lyndhurst warrant.

Demattos was transported to police headquarters where he posted $81 in bail and was released.

- Police investigated a report of fraud at about noon on Tuesday.

Police said a victim came into police headquarters and reported that she noticed her debit card was missing on Saturday. The victim also said she checked with the bank and discovered the card had been used to make several purchases, according to police. 

Police said they obtained video footage from the illegal transactions and forwarded the investigation to the borough Detective Bureau for follow-up.