NEWS

Rockaway police: Grandma drove getaway car for grandson

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

ROCKAWAY TWP. – A Pine Brook grandmother acted as the getaway driver after her grandson and his friend entered a house and stole $4,000 worth of property, police said.

At 12:54 p.m. Monday, police responded to a call for a burglary in progress on Rolling Ridge Drive, Lt. Peter Reilly said.

The caller, a neighbor of the home being burglarized, provided a detailed description of the suspects’ car, a white Chevrolet, including the license plate number, and a description of the occupants, Reilly said.

While responding to the burglary, Officer Matt Scherr spotted the vehicle traveling south on Green Pond Road, and stopped the car in the Hibernia section of the township, Reilly said.

Sgt. Michael Dachisen and Officer Edward Garcia assisted Scheer at the stop, while Officer Ken Brock met with the homeowner, who was alerted to the burglary by the neighbor, Reilly said.

The homeowner provided a list and description of what had been stolen, including a Nintendo Wii, video games and other items valued at a total of about $4,000, Reilly said.

Officers at the motor vehicle stop then found the missing property inside the Chevrolet, Reilly said.

Police also found suspected heroin and a hypodermic needle in the car, Reilly said.

An investigation found that one of the Chevrolet’s passengers, Melanie Coviello, 24, of Denville, had the key to the Realtor lockbox outside the Rolling Ridge Drive home, allowing her to enter the residence without force, Reilly said.

Coviello entered the house with her friend, Timothy Buniak, 18, of Dover, and took the items that were found in the car, Reilly said.

The driver of the car was Timothy Buniak’s grandmother, Vera Buniak, 78, of the Pine Brook section of Montville, police said. All three were arrested.

Vera Buniak was charged with possession of stolen property and released. Police could not say if she was aware a crime was occurring, but as the driver, she was part of the process, Reilly said.

Timothy Buniak was charged with burglary, theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a hypodermic needle.

Coviello was charged with burglary, theft and possession of stolen property.

Both Timothy Buniak and Coviello were held in the Morris County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The home and vehicle were processed by Morris County Sheriff’s Officer Douglas Laird.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com