Riverdale cops: Teens steal kegs they thought were full

RIVERDALE Three people were arrested after taking empty kegs from a popular Riverdale bar, claiming they thought they were full and planned to bring them to a lake party,police said.

At about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, Patrolman Gary Keil saw a suspicious vehicle, a black Nissan Altima, parked behind the Blu Ale House on Route 23 north near the restaurant’s storage area, Lt. James Macintosh said.

Keil also noticed a white man acting suspiciously outside the Nissan, apparently attempting to conceal something within the car, along with two more people inside the car, Macintosh said.

Keil then spoke with management at the Blu Ale House and was told that nobody should be in the storage area, at which point he confronted the three people, Macintosh said.

Keil found the trio - the driver, Brianna Siegel, 19, of Colonia, the passenger, John Buenoguaba, 18, of Keansby, and the man standing outside the vehicle, Donald Alena, 43, of Edison – attempting to take ten empty beer kegs valued at $100 each from the restaurant, Macintosh said.

Surveillance video showed the suspects taking kegs from the back of the Blu Ale House and placing them inside the Nissan, Macintosh said.

Siegel, Buenoguaba, and Alena were taken into custody and charged with third degree theft and third degree conspiracy to commit theft.

The total amount of the theft was $1,000, Macintosh said.

While being processed at headquarters, one of the suspects said they took the kegs for a party at a lake, but none of the three could answer when police asked which lake they were referring to, Macintosh said.

The suspects also had no response when police told them the kegs were empty and therefore not useful for a party, Macintosh said.

Siegel, Buenoguaba, and Alena were released pending a Sept. 16 court appearance.

Sgt. Chuck Quant and Patrolman Dan Salvati assisted Keil in the investigation.

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