By: Richard L. Smith
A Newark man has been arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery in which three suspects allegedly posed as FBI agents before stealing thousands of dollars from an apartment, authorities said.
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr., said Samuel Prata, 42, of Newark, was arrested Thursday in connection with the August 27 incident on Mott Street near Raymond Boulevard.
According to police, at approximately 2:30 p.m., three men knocked on the victim’s third-floor apartment door, claiming to be federal agents and demanding that she open the door.
When the victim opened the door, police said the men rushed inside and pushed her onto a couch. One suspect, described as light-skinned and wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, allegedly held her down while two masked accomplices searched the apartment.
Authorities said the suspects took $7,500 from a bedroom safe and two credit cards from the victim’s purse.
A fourth suspect reportedly waited outside in a black Toyota Camry Solara. The suspects fled in the vehicle, traveling east on Fleming Avenue with out-of-state license plates.
Prata has been charged with burglary, theft, criminal restraint, impersonating a public servant, and conspiracy.
Police continue to search for the remaining suspects and are asking anyone with information about their identities to call the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS.