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Jason N. Amador |
Raheim A. Maldonado |
Altamir L. Thornton |
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Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 18-year-old JASON N. AMADOR of Newark, NJ; 23-year-old RAHIEM A. MALDONADO of Newark, NJ; 22-year-old ALTAMIR L. THORNTON of Newark, NJ; and a 17-year-old juvenile of Woodbridge, NJ on charges stemming from a string of occupied residential burglaries that occurred during the early morning hours of November 26, 2024. The arrests are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck; the Cresskill Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Domville; the Englewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley; the Paramus Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Guidetti; and the Tenafly Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Chamberlain.
On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at approximately 12:50 a.m., the Englewood Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a private residence on Chestnut Street in Englewood, NJ. The resident reported hearing someone in the house along with the sudden activation of the home’s security alarm. Suspects were then heard fleeing the residence and were witnessed entering a dark-colored vehicle.
Also on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at approximately 1:13 a.m., the Cresskill Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a private residence on Devonshire Road in Cresskill, NJ. The suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of the responding officers, however a review of surveillance camera footage showed three individuals at a rear window of the residence utilizing a crowbar to remove the screen. A dark-colored sport utility vehicle was also captured fleeing the area.
Within an hour on that same date, Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at approximately 2:11 a.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to an attempted burglary at a private residence on Marion Lane in Paramus, NJ. The resident reported hearing a suspicious noise on the property and observed three individuals fleeing. The suspects successfully escaped once again, but a review of surveillance camera video confirmed that three individuals, one of whom was holding a crowbar, entered the rear yard of the residence. The surveillance also showed the suspects arriving in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle, and the same individuals fleeing the property a short time later.
Approximately thirty minutes after that, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 2:45 a.m., the Tenafly Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a private residence on Knoll Road in Tenafly, NJ. Similarly, the resident reported being awakened by an activated burglar alarm and discovered one of the home’s windows was opened. The suspects fled the scene, but responding officers conducted a review of surveillance camera footage that revealed a dark-colored sport utility vehicle in the area. Three individuals, at least one of whom was carrying a crowbar, were seen on video entering the rear yard of the residence. The suspects attempted to force entry into the home through multiple windows, eventually accessing one, activating the security alarm at some point, and then fleeing.
Almost one hour after the incident in Tenafly, and roughly three hours after the first incident in Englewood, NJ, a fifth and final occurrence was reported to police on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at approximately 3:43 a.m. Specifically, the Englewood Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a different private residence on Chestnut Street. The residents reported being awakened by the sounds of three intruders who all quickly fled the scene. Responding officers arrived and reviewed surveillance camera footage that confirmed at least three individuals forced entry through a window of the residence.
Throughout the duration of this burglary spree, officers from the various affected communities responded to each of the incidents and canvased their respective areas for any signs of the fleeing suspects; however, the suspects managed to elude the officers. Meanwhile, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and Crime Reduction Unit were notified, triggering resources from the Bergen County Crime Reduction Task Force that initiated a joint investigation with the Cresskill Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Paramus Police Department, and the Tenafly Police Department.
During the months-long investigation that followed, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Bergen County Crimes Reduction Task Force, with the coordination and assistance of several local police departments, identified 18-year-old JASON N. AMADOR of Newark, NJ; 23-year-old RAHIEM A. MALDONADO of Newark, NJ; 22-year-old ALTAMIR L. THORNTON of Newark, NJ; and a 17-year-old juvenile as the suspects who committed the four residential burglaries and one attempted residential burglary in Englewood, Cresskill, Paramus, and Tenafly on November 26, 2024.
Notably, RAHIEM A. MALDONADO and ALTAMIR L. THORNTON were arrested on November 26, 2024, the same day as the aforementioned burglary spree took place. As previously reported at that time, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Englewood Police Department located and arrested both men in connection with an unrelated armed robbery investigation, which began in August 2024. Since their arrest, MALDONADO and THORNTON have been incarcerated.
This latest investigation revealed that RAHIEM A. MALDONADO and ALTAMIR L. THORNTON committed the four residential burglaries and one attempted residential burglary in the hours prior to being captured by investigators in November. Moreover, during a court- authorized search of ALTAMIR L. THORNTON’s residence, which originally took place on November 26, 2024, detectives seized suspected stolen proceeds. Detectives later determined that items recovered at that time were connected to the burglary spree.
On April 25, 2025, as a result of the investigation, JASON N. AMADOR and the 17-year-old juvenile were both individually located and arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad in Newark, NJ and Woodbridge, NJ, respectively.
JASON N. AMADOR was charged with first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); four counts of second-degree residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2; second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:18-2.2; and third-degree theft by unlawful taking, N.J.S.A. 2C:30-A. AMADOR was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court.
The 17-year-old male was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: four counts of second-degree residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2; second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:18-2.2; and third-degree theft by unlawful taking, N.J.S.A. 2C:30-A. The 17-year-old male was lodged in the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center pending further court proceedings.
On April 28, 2025, as a result of the investigation, RAHIEM A. MALDONADO, who was already incarcerated, was served with charges of first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); four counts of second-degree residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2; second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:18-2.2; and third-degree theft by unlawful taking, N.J.S.A. 2C:30-A. MALDONADO remains in custody pending trial.
Also on April 28, 2025, as a result of the investigation, ALTAMIR L. THORNTON, who was already incarcerated, was served with charges of first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); four counts of second-degree residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2; second-degree criminal attempt to commit a residential burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:18-2.2; and third-degree theft by unlawful taking, N.J.S.A. 2C:30-A. THORNTON remains in custody pending trial.
“The work of the Crime Reduction Task Force directly contributes to enhancing the safety and quality of life for all residents of Bergen County, New Jersey,” said Prosecutor Mark Musella. “By targeting organized criminal activity, we aim to prevent future crimes and foster the safest possible environment for our neighborhoods and towns in New Jersey’s most populated county.”
Prosecutor Musella continued, “The collaboration of the officers, detectives, and the assistant prosecutors of this task force, working together with our municipal partners, is the key to handling complex and multi-jurisdictional cases.”
Chief of Detectives Matthew Finck noted, “The dedication of the investigators from the different agencies that are assigned to the Crime Reduction Task Force is a direct reflection of our shared commitment to ensure safety across Bergen County. Our thanks go out to all of the local, county, state, and federal investigators who provide the assistance necessary for any complex case work. But those Bergen County towns that participate in the Crime Reduction Task Force, alongside our very own county detectives, perhaps deserve the most credit of all.”
Deputy Chief of Detectives Jeff Angermeyer added, “Through intelligence-driven policing strategies and strong partnerships among the various agencies involved, the Crime Reduction Task Force remains committed to identifying and dismantling patterns of criminal activity that most affect the residents and municipalities of Bergen County.”
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Cresskill Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Paramus Police Department, and Tenafly Police Department for their partnership and assistance throughout this case. Furthermore, he thanks the many law enforcement agencies that had a hand in this investigation, including the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, the Wall Township Police Department, and the Woodbridge Police Department.
Finally, Prosecutor Musella wishes to particularly acknowledge the municipal police departments of Bergen County that are participating in the Crime Reduction Task Force, and whose efforts were a part of this investigation, namely: the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Saddle River Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, and Upper Saddle River Police Department.
