Wayne officials said on Sunday, March 27, at approximately 11:38 p.m., Wayne Police Officers were dispatched to Riverview Drive on a report of a male attempting to enter a resident's parked vehicle.
According to authorities, officer Diego Ocampo was checking the area when he observed a male matching the suspect's description on the lower end of Valley Road.
As Officer Ocampo approached, he observed the male suddenly manipulate the backpack he was carrying.
Officer Ocampo stopped the suspect to ascertain if he was involved in the attempted burglary of the parked vehicle.
Officials said additional officers arrived on the scene. Officer Donald Cook observed a laptop computer lying in the grass several feet from the suspect and directly in the path, which Officer Ocampo observed the suspect walking while he was manipulating his backpack.
The laptop case contained documents that indicated it belonged to a resident of a nearby home. Officer Cook brought the laptop to that resident, and he confirmed it was his and that it had been stolen from his vehicle without his knowledge.
After further questioning, the suspect admitted that he stole the laptop from a vehicle, entered another car and attempted to unlawfully get into the vehicle for which police were initially called.
Officials said Officer Ocampo then placed the suspect under arrest.
Police arrested Anthony Cole of Rahway then charged him with Burglary, Theft, Attempted Burglary and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on a complaint warrant.
Mr. Cole was placed in Passaic County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The charges against Mr. Cole are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.