By: Yuritza Arroyo
Authorities in Newark request the public’s help with identifying the suspects, who deceived victims into believing they were legally renting an apartment on March 29.
According to Newark Police, the deception involved the same fourth-floor apartment, located at 191-193 Roseville Avenue.
Police say It occurred during the morning and evening hours with different victims, who each responded to the rental advertisement on Facebook Market Place.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., the first victim and a roommate met the suspect wearing the hooded sweatshirt in the picture below.
According to authorities, they gave him a $4,875 down payment and could not reach him later when the apartment keys did not work. The suspect, a Black male, is described as about 20 to 30 years old, 5’7” or 5’9,” and 180 pounds.
He was wearing an army green hooded sweater, a beige or yellow coat, blue ripped jeans, and brown boots. He also had a beard and a short haircut.
Authorities say later that day, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the suspect pictured below with eyeglasses was given $4,875 from a victim for the same apartment on Roseville Avenue.
The keys she received for the apartment also did not work and the suspect’s phone and Facebook Market page had been deactivated when she tried to contact him.
He’s described as a Black male, about 32 to 35 years old, 5’9” to 5’11, and about 170 pounds. He was wearing a brown shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots. He also had a beard and a short haircut style.