03/21/2025
Outstanding work by our officers today and a big shout out to a sharp eyed resident!
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗯 𝗙𝘂𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮
𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨 (𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬)
𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧: One of two members of a sophisticated South American burglary ring who were captured by Mahwah police and turned over to the FBI this morning is a fugitive wanted for a homicide in Colombia, authorities said.
A neighbor at the Rio Vista development called police at 10 a.m. Friday (March 21) to report seeing the pair from Queens being dropped off and then entering the property of a $4.3 million home on Brams Hill Drive wearing masks and carrying backpacks.
Officer Connor Gilgen, who was the first to arrive, chased both men on foot through backyards before grabbing one of the suspects, identified as Cristian Bernal-Walles, Mahwah Police Capt. Guido Bussinelli said.
Gilgen secured Bernal-Walles, 28, in his patrol cruiser, then went back and found the second man – identified as Oscar Alvarez-Alzate, 21 – hiding in the brush, Bussinelli said.
In the backpacks police found a crowbar, an angle grinder, extension cord, rope and a cell phone jammer, he said.
Bernal-Walles (𝗺𝘂𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁) and Alvarez-Alzate (𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁) were found to be part of the South American Theft Group (SATG), which Mahwah police have been investigating for several unsolved burglaries, the captain said.
FBI agents called to Mahwah told township police that Bernal-Walles was wanted on an Interpol warrant for homicide in Colombia, he said.
Mahwah police charged the pair with conspiracy, resisting arrest and possession of burglary tools before turning them over to the FBI.
Bussinelli praised the “alert action” of the resident who called police, making the arrests possible.
He reminded any citizens who see something to immediately contact local police. They’d rather go on a call that doesn’t pan out than see anyone harmed or property stolen.
