One of the suspects claimed not to know his mother's name, police also said
FORT LEE-- Four New York residents were arrested Saturday after Port Authority police stopped their car on the George Washington Bridge and found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, agency spokesman Joseph Pentangelo said.
Police stopped the Honda Pilot around 7:15 p.m. on the bridge's lower level after the driver failed to signal a lane change, Pentangelo said. The driver did not have a license or registration for the vehicle and claimed the vehicle belonged to his mother, but the driver said he did not know the woman's name, Pentangelo also said.
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Police found large shopping bags containing a $1,200 leather jacket, sneakers and other items that still had the anti-theft devices attached. None of the four people in the car could provide receipts for the merchandise, which was valued at more than $10,000, Pentangelo said.
The items were also allegedly found inside so-called "booster bags," which are lined with metal tape intended to thwart electronic anti-theft measures.
Reihner F. Noriega, 24 of the Bronx; Leticia Diaz, 54, of Woodside; Elkin A, Paredes Reina, 33, of Jackson Heights and Alexis R. Valanzuela Diaz, 34, also of Jackson Heights, were all taken into custody.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.