Two teenagers were
arrested in Union City early this morning after their attempt to break into an
auto repair shop was thwarted by a neighbor who saw them jump into the shop’s
fenced-in yard, police said today.
Union City Police
Chief Brian Barrett said 19-year-old Sumon Hossain of Long Island City, N.Y.,
and 18-year-old Richard Rodriguez of Queens, N.Y., were arrested and charged
with attempted burglary after they were caught trying to break into a garage on
48th Street.
Barrett said police
were alerted to the break-in attempt at about 2:30 a.m. by a neighbor. Barrett
said the neighbor woke up to noises outside his house, finding the two teens
climbing the fence to get into the shop’s yard.
Barrett said police
arrived moments later and found a car mat draped over the fence the teens had
used from getting hurt while climbing over the sharp fence. Police found the
teens at side door trying to force the door open; Barrett said the teens
claimed they were playing Manhunt.
“It was good work
by the neighbor to make sure he got all the necessary information to us, and good
work by our officers to respond quickly and get them before they could get
away,” Barrett said.
Hossain and
Rodriguez were both transferred to county jail later in the morning, but
Barrett was unsure if they had appeared in court or posted bail.
