BURGLARY ARREST:
DATE OF CRIME: Various CASE:17-01726, 17-01716
TIME: During the day when people are at work
LOCATION: Multiple locations in multiple towns
STRUCTURE ENTERED: Homes
FORCED ENTRY: Yes
STRUCTURE LOCKED: Yes
CRIME WITH BURGLARY: Theft
IF THEFT WHAT AND VALUE: Multiple items with multiple values. Estimates by the detectives is at least $20,000.00
OFFICER INVESTIGATING: Hopatcong Detective Bureau, Byram Township Detectives, Sussex County Prosecutors Detectives, Sparta Detectives
NAME OF ACCUSED: Jason Major
ADDRESS OF ACCUSED: 4 Henry Street Hopatcong NJ
AGE OF ACCUSED: 34
ANY RESISTANCE: No
CHARGES: Either investigations or charges for criminal mischief, Burglary and Theft from Hopatcong, Byram, Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Elmwood Park and Morris Township. Also Possession of hypodermic needles, crack cocaine pipe and heroin.
WAS BAIL SOUGHT: See narrative on the new bail reform law
ANY OTHER INFORMATION: The following information on the arrest of Jason Major is a great example of residents helping their police. It also shows how crimes can be solved when multiple police agencies share information. Without the combined efforts of these agencies and residents from many towns giving us information, this arrest would not have happened so quickly.
Major is accused of committing multiple burglaries in multiple jurisdictions over the last month or so. (See the towns that we know of above). Major would put on a tri color safety vest and pose to be a DPW worker. He would knock on doors and if no one answered he would break in and steal what he could.
Through the help of residents, detectives found that Major was driving a 1990’s green Dodge Pickup with a black ladder rack. Hopatcong Police Detectives found that Major was living in our town at 4 Henry Street. On Friday 02/10/17 with the help of the Hopatcong Detectives, Byram Township Detectives, Sparta Township Detectives and the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, Major was investigated and arrested in Elmwood Park late Friday night. With the assistance of the Elmwood park police, drug paraphernalia, and proceeds from many burglaries were recovered.
Major was charged and released to us by Elmwood Park Police late Friday night. We charged him for two burglaries in Hopatcong. Because of the Elmwood Park charges, we were able to get a high enough score on the new PSA (Public Safety Assessment) to have him lodged in the Sussex County Jail on Saturday morning 2/11/17.
Major was released a few hours later after a court hearing On Sunday 2/12/17, Major was arrested in Morris Township for committing another burglary. He was charged and later released. At this time Major is not incarcerated. There is nothing the Police can do about this because of the new bail reform law. In our efforts to keep the public safe we can only attach Major’s picture to this press release. If you see him on your property or a neighbors, please call 911.
Press release by Lt. Kmetz #34 (973)398-5000
(These charges are merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty)
