Crime & Safety

Verona Man Charged With Stealing $27K in Smart Phones

Co-worker from Paterson also charged with theft from Cedar Grove store.

Two employees of the Verizon Store in Cedar Grove took thousands of dollars in smart phones from the shop’s inventory, police officials said. 

Store owners reported numerous phones missing from the Pompton Avenue business on Sept. 2.

Police say after reviewing surveillance video taken inside of the store employee Jonathan Butler, 26, was identified as one of the thieves. The Verona man was charged on Tuesday with the theft of 45 phones worth a total of $27,000.

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During the investigation, Butler's co-worker, Luis O. Robles, 31, of Paterson, was also identified as one of the thieves. He was charged on Thursday with the theft of six phones valued at $4,000.

Det./Sgt. John Kennedy and Det. Michael Tower of the Cedar Grove Police Department conducted the investigation. 

Find out what's happening in Verona-Cedar Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both men have court dates in Newark Superior Court on Thursday, Sept. 12.



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