Alleged Bloomfield Laundry Room Burglar Nabbed in Caldwell

A man linked to more than a dozen burglaries involving stealing change from coin-operated laundry machines and from a donation container at a 7-Eleven was arrested Monday, Caldwell Police Det. Sgt. Anthony Marta said.

Shaun Ward, 30, was arrested outside a Roseland Avenue apartment building in Caldwell after a resident reported a suspicious individual attempting to enter the laundry room. According to Marta, Officers Andrew Apicella and Mike Geary approached and interviewed Ward on the property prior to making an arrest.

Marta said Ward admitted to the Roseland Avenue burglary as well as other incidents in Caldwell, West Caldwell, Bloomfield, Verona and Cedar Grove.

“While he was interviewed, [Ward] confessed to our burglaries,” Marta said. “It resulted in clearing 13 burglaries in our area.”

Ward told police he struck laundry rooms in apartment buildings up and down Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell and West Caldwell. According to Marta, he said he used a hammer and chisel to compromise change holders in laundry machines and crude, homemade tools to scoop out coins.

At the time of the arrest, Marta said, Officer Geary found a white plastic spoon with a four-inch long stick tied to it. Geary had found a similar tool involving the same kind of plastic spoon and a pencil in a garbage can of another Caldwell laundry room that was burglarized in recent days.

Ward, who does not have a permanent address, was charged by Caldwell Police with criminal attempted burglary and two counts of burglary tools as well as a disorderly persons offenses for Monday's incident. Ward had a crowbar in his possession, Marta said. 

In addition, Ward was charged with five counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Additional thefts took place on March 29 at Rumsey Park on Prospect Street, on March 31 at the Maryann Apartments on Bloomfield Avenue, Prospect Street and Academy Road and on April 7 at the Grover Cleveland Apartments on Arlington Avenue.

All of these burglaries took place at night, Marta said. He said no more than $300 was yielded from the thefts. Labor and parts to repair the washers and dryers is estimated to cost $6,300.

Bail was imposed by a municipal judge at $30,000 in Caldwell. Ward was released when he posted 10% of bail. He is due to appear in Caldwell court next month.

West Caldwell Police charged Ward Monday with three counts of burglary and criminal mischief and four counts of theft, according to Chief Michael Bramhall.

Ward allegedly took a donation container filled with change from the counter of the 7-Eleven at 576 Bloomfield Ave., in West Caldwell. He is also charged with burglaries to apartment buildings at 1048 and 1070 Bloomfield Ave. where change was reported stolen from coin-operated laundry machines in March.

Surveillance video from 7-Eleven showed a man with the same backpack Ward was found carrying Monday, Marta said.

Chief Bramhall said Ward was processed in West Caldwell Monday where he made bail and was released. Ward is scheduled to appear in court in West Caldwell on May 4.