Jersey City man and Hoboken man caught stealing a package

Benjamin Abreu 49 y/o Male from Hoboken, NJ

Gregory Freitas 29 y/o Male from Jersey City, NJ

Arrest Date and Time: 08/02/20 at 1:41 PM

Arrest Location: 9th and Jackson Street

Offenses: Theft and Conspiracy

Officers: Detective Sergeant Josue Velez, Detective Luis Rodriguez, and Police Officer Liana Paladino

Incident Detail: At about 1:20 PM, on Sunday, August 02, 2020, Detective Sergeant Josue Velez and Detective Luis Rodriguez were driving eastbound on 9th and Jefferson Street in an unmarked police vehicle. As they traveled through the intersection of 9th and Jefferson Street, they observed two males standing by a package, which was laid in front of a residential doorway. One male appeared to be studying the package, as the other male appeared to be acting like a lookout. The detectives kept watch as they approached the next intersection of 9th and Adams Street. As they reached the intersection, they observed the one male pick up the package and they walked away together heading westbound. D/Sgt. Velez notified dispatch of what they observed and gave out a description of the alleged actors. The detectives circled the block to locate the alleged actors. As they searched, Officer Liana Palladino notified dispatch that she may have located the alleged actors in the area of the 9th Street Light Rail. D/Sgt. Velez and Det. Rodriguez responded and confirmed Officer Palladino had stopped the alleged actors. The two males stopped were identified as Benjamin Abreu 49 y/o Male from Hoboken, NJ and Gregory Freitas 29 y/o Male from Jersey City, NJ. Through on scene investigation, it was learned that the package was stolen and both Abreu and Freitas were placed under arrest. Both Abreu and Freitas were charged with Theft and Conspiracy and these charges were placed on warrants. Abreu was found to have 10 warrants for his arrest: 6 out of Union City, NJ, 3 out of Hoboken, NJ, and 1 out of Weehawken, NJ. Freitas had 1 warrant out of Riverside Township, NJ. Abreu and Freitas were transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

Defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.