Police interrupted a home invasion and arrested three men after a resident reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the borough, authorities said Wednesday.
Fair Lawn police said they foiled a home invasion in the borough Sept. 22, 2015 (File photo)
Officer Nicholas Snyder was patrolling Whitehall Street around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday when a resident flagged him down and pointed the officer to a Ford Explorer parked for a long time on the block, police said in a statement.
Snyder found the SUV in the driveway of a home and spoke to passengers Dariel Aybar, 25, and Rafael Hidalgo, 23, both of West New York, according to police. They claimed the driver was visiting his uncle at the residence.
When the officer knocked on the door, Travis Villalobos, 25, answered, police said. The officer asked to speak with the man's purported relative.
The 52-year-old victim came to the door, telling police that Villalobos grabbed him, forced his way inside and told him to claim they were acquainted, authorities said.
"Evidence of drug use, loose pieces of jewelry, electronics, gloves and burglary tools were found inside the vehicle," police said in the statement.
Villalobos was charged with burglary, conspiracy, assault, false imprisonment, providing false information and possession of burglary tools. Authorities said he was ordered held at the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $150,000, with a 10 percent option.
Aybar and Hidalgo both face charges of burglary, providing false information, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said bail for the two men was set at $75,000, each with a 10 percent option.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
