Nearly 30 Little League stand burglaries throughout North Jersey linked to two people – NorthJersey.com

Little League concession stands have been a frequent target of burglaries in North Jersey, leaving authorities searching for a couple suspected in the rash of thefts. 

At least 27 stands have been hit through Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, Sussex and Middlesex counties since April 24. The thieves made off with $700 in cash in one. 

Morris and Passaic counties have had the most thefts with eight each. The most recent came at Overpeck County Park in Paramus late Wednesday or early Thursday. 

The towns where the burglaries occurred include (dates and field included where known):

• Parsippany-Troy Hills E. Little League May 2
• Jefferson Parks Department concession stand between May 11 and May 13
• Burnham Park Little League concession stand in Morristown between May 15 and May 16
• Lake Parsippany Park concession stand between May 24 and May 27
• Madison High School concession stand between May 31 and June 1
• Dodge Field in Madison concession stand between May 31 and June 2
• Anderson Field in Kinnelon concession stand between June 6 and June 7
• Donatoni Park concession stand in Rockaway June 20
• Elmwood Park
• Paramus
• Teaneck
• Hasbrouck Heights
• Belleville
• Livingston
• Verona
• Woodbridge
• Totowa, twice
• Clifton, two fields
• Wayne
• Paterson
• Little Falls
• Bloomingdale
• Stanhope

“This is a prime opportunity for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence to apprehend perpetrators who are stealing from children, their families, schools and recreation programs that count on concession stand sales to support Little League and other sport activities,” Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said in a prepared statement. 

In many of the thefts the doors were heavily damaged. The burglars would then take not only cash but candy, drinks and other items they could get their hands on. 

In Hasbrouck Heights, police are looking for a man and a woman who were caught on surveillance footage breaking into the Little League concession stand and stealing money and candy in late May.

The concession stand’s steel door had been pried open, as had the cash register, a police report said. The pair stole $230 in cash, a box of Starbursts, several bags of Skittles, a box of Big League Chew Gum and a bucket of Double Bubble gum. The theft was reported May 25.

More: Three Bergen County public works employees arrested after fraud probe

More: Paterson man charged in over 30 burglaries through Morris, Essex and Passaic counties

Evidence has been the biggest problem in the investigations.

Little Falls Detective Dawn Gilchrist said police have little to go on after the local stand was broken into over Memorial Day weekend. The Little Falls concession stand doesn’t have video surveillance.

The door was damaged, and whoever broke in went in through the ceiling to get inside, Gilchrist said.

“They stole maybe $100 but caused almost $1,000 in damage,” Gilchrist said.

Morris County Sheriff’s Office Systems Analyst Jane Recktenwald is gathering information and working with other police departments on the thefts. 

The Little League concession stand in Clifton was targeted in early May. Between $500 and $700 was stolen from the cash register, as well as candy. Lt. Robert Bracken said the investigation is ongoing and other jurisdictions are involved, but he could not confirm whether it was related to Hasbrouck Heights or Little Falls.

Clifton’s stand did not have any video surveillance.

“They are stealing from kids,” said Ron Gibney, president of the Clifton National Little League. 

The suspects are described as a man with an average build, wearing glasses, gloves and a hoodie, and a woman with a thin build wearing a white hoodie, white pants and gloves.

Staff Writer Matt Fagan contributed to this article.

Read or Share this story: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/crime/2019/06/21/little-league-theft-nearly-30-stands-targeted-north-jersey/1529151001/