Fair Lawn Residents, Business Owners On Edge Following Rash Of Break-Ins
FAIR LAWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's literally "highway robbery."
That's because dozens of homes and businesses along Route 208 in Fair Lawn have been burglarized.
Albert Ibrami told CBS 2's Derricke Dennis on Thursday night that the back door to his business was pried open and his cash register was robbed.
"It's right in the middle of like six different towns, this road, so maybe it's the location, who knows?" he said.
Over the last 16 months Fair Lawn police have tracked 84 business robberies and home burglaries, most of them coming along Route 208. The highway provides an easy in and out for thieves.
"The residential burglaries occur during the day; the commercial burglaries mostly, of course, occur at night when the businesses are closed," explained Fair Laen Interim Police Chief Glen Cauwels.
Authorities told CBS 2 that the western part of town, near the highway, has been the hardest hit.
"I don't think the residents should be alarmed about it, but they should be aware," Cauwels said.
Thieves hit 81-year-old Ruth Hermann's home in the middle of the day and made off with her daughter's competitive racing bike.
"It was over $500, and it was relatively new. Like, a year old," Hermann said.
Now, police are asking homes and businesses within striking distance of Route 208 to keep their eyes peeled.
"Just keep your eyes open, if you see something that doesn't look ordinary, just give us a call," Cauwels said.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
