BLOOMINGDALE, NJ — A Bridgewater man was arrested March 6, 2026, and charged with theft by deception after allegedly defrauding an elderly resident of more than $25,000.
Branislav Vasljevic, 42, of Bridgewater, was taken into custody by Bloomingdale police officers following an investigation that began in January.
Ptl. Alexandra Morse and Ptl. Kevin Miller launched the investigation after receiving a complaint from a family member of a Bloomingdale resident who believed the resident was being taken advantage of and had lost several thousand dollars.
Officers discovered evidence that the elderly victim had been befriended by Vasljevic, who allegedly gained the victim’s trust through their interactions.
Vasljevic allegedly convinced the victim that he needed a new vehicle and persuaded him to sell his current vehicle, according to police.
The victim trusted Vasljevic and provided him with the vehicle to facilitate the sale, police said.
Vasljevic then requested additional money from the victim, claiming it was needed to cover various fees, according to police.
After selling the vehicle, Vasljevic allegedly kept the proceeds for himself.
Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Vasljevic after gathering evidence during the investigation.
Vasljevic was remanded to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office HUB pending court proceedings.
