TEANECK, N.J. — A suspected car burglar led police on a wild overnight chase through the heart of Teaneck's Bnai Yeshurun neighborhood, fleeing through backyards and woods before crossing the muddy Hackensack River into Hackensack, where he was finally caught near Riverside Square Mall.
Adrian T. Woollery, 23, of Brooklyn, was arrested early Thursday, Oct. 22, after a search involving police drones, a K-9 unit and officers from multiple departments.
The chase began around 12:15 a.m. when a Somerset Road resident called 911 after a vehicle alarm sounded and a man was spotted running away.
Responding Officer Howell Lopez spotted Woollery carrying a bag and running west through a backyard, prompting police to establish a perimeter.
Officers from Teaneck, Hackensack and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office joined the search, deploying drones to track the suspect.
A residential floodlight near Wendell Place and Starview Court helped officers narrow their search.
Police located Woollery in woods behind Starview Court, but he allegedly ignored orders to stop and fled through thick brush along the Hackensack River.
Along the way, he discarded a bag that investigators later recovered containing suspected stolen property.
With the river at low tide, Woollery allegedly crossed the muddy riverbed into Hackensack near the AMC movie theater at Riverside Square Mall.
After another brief chase through the mall parking lot, Bergen County sheriff's officers arrested him.
Woollery was transported by TVAC to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment.
Investigators recovered numerous items believed stolen from vehicles and said Woollery was carrying a knife.
Police initially charged him with attempted burglary, resisting arrest, weapons offenses, obstruction and possession of burglary tools.
Later that morning, three additional northwest Teaneck residents reported vehicle burglaries. Two vehicles were also reported stolen near Downing Street and Ogden Avenue.
Both stolen vehicles were recovered in Brooklyn the following day.
Detectives subsequently linked Woollery to the additional incidents, filing conspiracy charges related to motor vehicle theft and burglary.
Despite the allegations, Woollery was released from the Bergen County Jail on Oct. 23 after spending one night in custody, according to jail records.
Police are investigating possible accomplices and additional victims.
Anyone whose vehicle was entered, tampered with or stolen can contact Teaneck police at 201-837-2600 or Bergen Crime Stoppers at 844-466-6789.
