By: Richard L. Smith
Four suspects, including a juvenile, have been charged in connection with a string of home burglaries across Bergen County last November, according to a statement released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation began after police responded to multiple burglaries in Englewood, Cresskill, Paramus, and Tenafly on November 26, 2024.
In Tenafly, a resident on Knoll Road was awakened by a security alarm and found a window open.
Surveillance footage showed three suspects, one armed with a crowbar, attempting to break in before fleeing when the alarm sounded.
Roughly an hour later, Englewood police were called to Chestnut Street, where residents reported hearing three intruders who quickly fled. Video evidence confirmed the break-in.
Despite extensive searches by local police, the suspects initially evaded capture.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, working with several local departments, launched a joint investigation.
Authorities eventually identified the suspects as 18-year-old Jason N. Amador, 23-year-old Rahiem A. Maldonado, 22-year-old Altamir L. Thornton — all from Newark — and a 17-year-old juvenile. Notably, Maldonado and Thornton were arrested the same day as the burglaries during an unrelated armed robbery probe.
A search of Thornton’s home uncovered stolen items tied to the burglaries.
On April 25, 2025, detectives arrested Amador in Newark and the juvenile in Woodbridge, bringing the months-long investigation to a close.