Wyckoff Police Honored for Foiling Jewelry Heist

Police Chief Benjamin Fox and the Township Committee honored the Wyckoff Police officers and dispatchers responsible for catching at the committee's meeting Tuesday night.

Police officers Jack McEwan, Tom Tully, Brenda Groslinger, Ryan Tenney and dispatchers Matt Fenkart, Richard Carruthers and Diane Fewkes were awarded for their work in catching the thieves, which Fox estimated took only 15 minutes. Fox said other Wyckoff officers who were off duty also came to help, as did police from surrounding communities, including Franklin Lakes and Hawthorne, where the thieves were caught.

"Wyckoff is very fortunate to have such dedicated individuals serving in the police department," Mayor Kevin Rooney said.

According to Fox, after the thieves left Hartgers Jewelers, police caught up with them on Franklin Avenue, but they would not stop. In Franklin Lakes, one man jumped from the car and attempted to run away, so police chased him on foot. The remaining thieves then took 208 South to Goffle Road and drove through Hawthorne, where they were caught after crashing into two Hawthorne Police cars.

"It was incredible police work," Fox said.