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A resident of the 100 block of Hillcrest Avenue called police around 7:45 a.m. after spotting the borough teen rummaging through his car, Capt. Scott Tamagny told Daily Voice.
The thief bolted when the resident tried questioning him, hopping a backyard fence, Tamagny said, adding that a surveillance camera captured the incident.
A Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was summoned as police reviewed the video, got a fuller description from the victim and identified a suspect, the captain said.
The dog tracked the teen to the parking lot of Leonia High School, where Tamagny said he and Detective Michael Jennings grabbed him.
The boy was wearing a pair of sneakers stolen from a teacher's car that was parked in the lot, Tamagny said.
He also was carrying serveral stolen items and a small amount of prescription medication, the captain said.
Investigators believe the teen entered as many as 10 vehicles during an early-morning car burglary spree, said Tamagny, who reminded citizens to keep theirs locked at all times and report any suspicious activity.
He also asked that anyone who thinks their vehicle was broken into to call police headquarters: (201) 944-0800.
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