Crime & Safety
Verona Police Catch School Purse Thief
The Children's Institute employee Joshua Martinez of New Providence arrested after he admitted to stealing money out of a co-worker's purse.
A New Providence man was arrested following a series of thefts from employees at The Children’s Institute’s Verona campus, police said.
In the most recent incident, police were called to the campus, located at 1 Sunset Ave., after money was stolen from a purse on Oct. 15.
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Police reviewed the school’s video security tapes and said Joshua Martinez was involved in the most recent theft.
When confronted, Martinez admitted stealing the money.
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In addition to the Oct. 15 incident, Martinez admitted to several other thefts at the school, police said.
“He has been charged with the theft from that day (Oct. 15), but no others as of yet,” Verona Chief of Police Douglas Huber. “We are still working on that.”
Principal Gina Catania referred calls relating to Martinez’s employment history, job title and when the thefts began to Superintendent Dr. Bruce Ettinger, who did not return calls.
Martinez was taken to police headquarters and processed before being released pending a municipal court appearance.
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