Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department announces the arrest of Robert Fritz (59) of Little Falls, N.J. for burglary and theft on May 5, 2022. The circumstances that led to the arrest are as follows:
On May 5, 2022, Officer Frank Patierno was dispatched to a Little Falls Road residence on a report of a burglary that occurred in the past and that was caught on video surveillance. It allegedly shows that on May 4, 2022, at approximately 12:30 PM, a lone actor, later identified as Fritz, opens the garage door, and enters the residence. Fritz then loads a dolly cart with a variety of items to include a radio and power tool. He then walks out of the residence with the items and proceeds down Little Falls Road outside of the view of the cameras.
It is alleged that Fritz returns and illegally enters the residence at least two more times and take various items. Included among the items taken throughout this burglary included a welding machine, binoculars, a Craftsman ride-on lawn mower, a large collection of antique trains, various DeWalt and Makita power tools and a Bluetooth stereo. The total value of items taken was approximately $13,000.
Later in the afternoon, police were again contacted by the victim and asked to respond to a Van Ness Avenue residence where it is alleged the victim observed some of his stolen items outside of the home. Fairfield Detectives Daniel Moran and Nicholas Cocchi arrived on the scene and were then able to develop Fritz as a suspect as he had past incidents at the victim’s residence and also had lived in the area where he was seen traveling with the stolen items.
At about this same time, a 2005 red Ford truck arrived at the Van Ness residence, with the occupants being the owner of the residence and Fritz, who allegedly was wearing the exact same clothing as the suspect in the video. After a brief investigation, it was determined that the Van Ness Avenue homeowner was not involved in the incident. At this point, Fritz was arrested and brought to police headquarters for processing. The alleged stolen items were all recovered. Fritz was eventually transported to the Essex County Jail pending an appearance in the Superior Court.
(It should be noted that the charges against Fritz are merely allegations and that he is presumed innocent until he either pleads guilty or is found guilty in a court of law)
Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna
