Due to a recent rash of burglaries in the Woodside Gardens apartment complex, Roselle Park Police Detectives set up surveillance early Thursday morning, September 27, 2012. Around 9 a.m. an individual walking aimlessly around the neighborhood got their attention.
For over an hour police watched as he walked the streets of the apartment complex and the nearby neighborhood of single family homes. A short while later, police watched the man enter a BMW that had just pulled into the complex. Police approached and conducted a traffic stop. They found the man trying to conceal something in his clothing. Police located a small package in his pants containing several syringes and other items commonly used to prepare and ingest heroin.
The suspect was identified as Pawel Sosnowski, age 30, of Roselle Park.
Sosnowski was also found in possession of several coins taken during a recent apartment burglary. In that incident, the victim, an 83-year-old female, reported last week that someone stole coins, jewelry, and several United States Military WWII medals and pins that belonged to her deceased husband. Sosnowski was arrested and transported to headquarters.
The driver of the BMW, Paul Ferrara, age 30, of Kenilworth, was also arrested and transported to police headquarters after he falsely identified himself as a Union County law enforcement officer.
Detectives continued working the case and were able to connect Sosnowski to three (3) burglaries committed between September 3rd and September 14th in the Woodside Gardens apartment complex.
Sosnowski was charged with Burglary, Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Hypodermic Syringes. He was lodged in the Union County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bail.
Paul Ferrara’s involvement in the burglaries is still under investigation.
The burglary investigation was conducted by Detectives Hussam Assad and Richard Cocca along with Patrolman Edward Nortrup.
On Friday, Roselle Park Police traveled to pawn shops in Essex and Union counties and were able to recover several more of the victim’s coins.
The WWII medals have not yet been located.
If anyone has information concerning the burglaries, its proceeds, or Mr. Sosnowski, they are urged to contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300.