3 Missing Bloomfield Teens Found Safe At PA McDonald’s: Officials
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A trio of Essex County teens have been found safe after allegedly disappearing with thousands of dollars in cash stolen from one of their fathers, authorities said.
On Saturday evening, the Bloomfield Police Department announced that Ulises Yance, 16, and Alex Lopez, 15 and Alexa Arenas, 16, all from Bloomfield, “have been located and are safe.”
A Bloomfield township spokesperson told Patch on Monday morning that the teens were located safe in Pennsylvania with assistance from a local police department. The teens’ parents have taken custody and they are back in Bloomfield, the spokesperson said.
Bloomfield town officials released a statement about the missing teens on Monday afternoon:
“Alex Lopez, Ulises Yance and Alexa Arenas were located late Sunday night by Lemoyne Police Department officers in the Pennsylvania town’s McDonald’s. The 15 and 16-year-olds were then brought to Lemoyne police headquarters to talk, and call their parents, who picked them up and brought the youths back to Bloomfield early Monday morning.”
Bloomfield Director of Public Safety Samuel DeMaio said:
“Our investigation, headed by Lt. George Ricci of the Youth Aid Division, gained information that led us to believe the teenagers may have been in the Lemoyne McDonald’s. We alerted the Lemoyne Police Department, which quickly found them. Thanks to this great cooperation between our police department and theirs, I am happy to report this case is closed.”
“On behalf of the Bloomfield Township Council, I would like to thank Director of Public Safety Samuel DeMaio and the entire Bloomfield Police Department for their great work locating these missing persons,” Mayor Michael Venezia said.
“We are all relieved that they were found safe and are back with their families, Venezia said. “I would also like to thank the members of the media and everyone who shared information about the missing children for their efforts to help expand the search.”
Authorities launched a multi-state search for the teens last weekend. Their possible destination was New Mexico, according to the families. Yance’s father reported that $8,000 in cash went missing before the teens disappeared, authorities said.
Yance and Lopez were last seen Friday at approximately 7:30 a.m. Arenas, who was described as “endangered,” was last seen either Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. or Thursday, according to information provided by family and friends on their missing posters.
The parents communicated with each other during the incident, Arenas’ father, Carlos Arenas, told nj.com. “Right now, we’re just really worried and concerned for her safety,” Arenas said. “Whatever problems she may have, we’re here for her.”
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Photos of Ulises Yance, Alex Lopez and Alexa Arenas courtesy of Maria Hincapie and Bloomfield authorities
