CLOSTER, N.J.—A borough detective tracked a pickpocketing suspect all the way to Virginia after he allegedly snatched a senior citizen’s wallet as she admired a Christmas tree outside Home Goods at the Closter Plaza Nov. 6, 2019.
Detective Keith Dombkowski processed Kenard Johnson, 50, of Oxon Hill, Md., on Dec. 30, 2019, charging him with theft of movable property, conspiracy to commit theft, shoplifting and conspiracy to commit shoplifting. He had to be extradited from Fairfax County, Virginia. Two other suspects have not yet been identified.
In investigation reports shared with Northern Valley Press this week, Closter police describe how the 76-year-old victim was approached the day of the crime by another woman who began talking about the Christmas tree, before then talking to another man.
Soon after, the victim realized her belongings were missing.
Gone was her wallet, containing $700 cash, credit cards and personal identification.
Security tapes reviewed by Patrolman Justin Krapels showed a three-person crew working together, one of whom removed the victim’s wallet as the unidentified woman distracted her.
Prior to the pickpocketing at 3:25 p.m., the three suspects were seen on surveillance exiting the store with $900 worth of Home Goods products.
With the suspects nowhere to be found, the victim phoned police just hours later to report her credit card had been used at a Target store in the amount of $1,000.
Detectives on the case
Dombkowski collected surveillance footage from Target in Hackensack, where the victim’s credit card had been used, and saw the female suspect from the Closter theft using the card.
He shared information on the suspects with regional law enforcement partners.
On Nov. 19, 2019, New Milford Police Department made the connection to a pickpocket incident that had occurred in that jurisdiction on July 9, 2019. A male suspect in the New Milford incident—Johnson—matched the physical description of a Closter Home Goods pickpocketing suspect.
Dombkowski sought assistance from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit, which undertook inconclusive facial recognition using pictures from the incidents. However, a BCPO investigator, after analyzing and comparing the pictures, said he believed Johnson was the actor wanted in the Closter incident, according to Dombkowski.
Just four days after the Closter incident, on Nov. 10, 2019, Johnson had been arrested by the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia for shoplifting.
Dombkowski contacted Fairfax County police, where Officer Heidi Smith told him Johnson had been arrested there for credit card fraud, shoplifting and possession of narcotics, stemming from an incident at the local mall.
Smith provided a photo of Johnson. He was shown wearing a black jacket identical to one worn by a male in the Closter incident, said Dombkowski.
Soon thereafter, Closter Municipal Judge Francis Leddy issued an arrest warrant for Johnson, who first needed to clear extradition from Virginia before being brought to New Jersey to face charges.
Dombkowski said he processed Johnson on Dec. 30, 2019, at Bergen County Jail.
Johnson was later released on bail, records show. He’s also facing multiple charges in New Milford. All charges are pending court proceedings.