Bergen County Fugitive Caught: Woman Arrested After Years on the Run in ID Theft Case
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
GLEN ROCK, NJ — A years-long game of cat-and-mouse has come to an end for a Pennsylvania woman accused of a sophisticated bank fraud scheme in Bergen County.
Dawn Coughlin (also known as Dawn Busanet), 46, of Whitehall, PA, was taken into custody on April 7, 2026, ending her time as a fugitive from a warrant issued nearly seven years ago.
The Impersonation Plot
The case dates back to 2019, when Glen Rock Detective Doney began investigating a series of brazen bank “takeover” attempts. According to Glen Rock Police Chief Michael Trover, a woman—later identified as Coughlin—entered two different New Jersey banks posing as a Glen Rock resident.
Her goal was simple but devastating: use the victim’s stolen identity to withdraw large sums of cash directly from their personal accounts.
The Arrest and Charges
Coughlin’s run ended this week at the Morris County Jail, where she was picked up by Glen Rock officers and transferred to the Bergen County Jail. She is currently being held on the outstanding 2019 warrant.
The legal fallout for Coughlin is significant. She faces a litany of charges, including:
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Fraudulent use of a credit card
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Theft by deception
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Forgery
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Impersonation
A History of Offenses
This is not Coughlin’s first brush with the law. Public records reveal a criminal history spanning over two decades, including weapon possession charges in Middletown in 2015, as well as various drug and assault charges dating back to the early 2000s.
Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
This arrest serves as a stark reminder of the persistence of identity thieves. To protect your accounts from similar “impersonation” attempts, experts recommend:
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Enabling Bank Alerts: Set up notifications for any withdrawal over a certain dollar amount.
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Using Multi-Factor Authentication: Ensure your banking app requires more than just a password.
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Regular Credit Monitoring: Check for unauthorized inquiries or new accounts opened in your name.
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