NEWARK, NJ — Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man suspected of stealing a bag containing jewelry and personal items from a hotel during a fire evacuation.
A victim reported to police that he was evacuating the Howard Johnson Hotel, located at 20 Frontage Road, at 2 a.m. on Tuesday due to a fire in a unit when he put down his bag near a stairwell to assist other residents.
He realized the next day that his bag was missing.
Surveillance footage showed a Black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a face mask picking up the bag and entering a room in the hotel.
The suspect then checked out of the hotel.
The victim reported that the bag contained two pair of 14 carat gold earrings, a broken gold chain, a diamond engraved watch and other personal documents.
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr., urges anyone with information about the identity of this suspect to call the Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).
Anonymous tips may also be made using the Police Division’s website at https://www.newarkpublicsafety.org/…/submit-a-crime-tip/.
