Phone leads cops to man accused of attacking woman, 67, authorities say

Bergen County man faces robbery and drug charges

NUTLEY -- A Mahwah man was arrested in a stolen vehicle after he assaulted and robbed a 67-year-old woman on a Nutley street, police said Sunday.

Officers responded to St. Mary's Place in the township around 11:50 p.m. Friday where the woman told authorities a man attacked from behind and grabbed her purse off her arm, according to police spokesman Detective Sgt. Anthony Montanari. The assailant fled in a sport utility vehicle.

Police traced the woman's stolen cell phone to a Walgreens parking lot on Main Street in Clinton, Montanari said in a statement. At the store, Nutley and Clifton police spotted the SUV with Anthony Randazzo behind the wheel, the sergeant added.

An officer dialed the stolen phone and found it in the SUV along with her purse and identification on the front seat, according to police. Officers also determined the vehicle was reported stolen from Fair Lawn.

Teens burglarized dozens of cars, Nutley cops say

Randazzo, 31, was charged with robbery and drug possession offenses, authorities said. He was ordered held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Officials noted the crime came days after they arrested a Passaic man and 16-year-old from Elmwood Park for allegedly burglarizing dozens of vehicles in the township.

"...I am committed to adding more police to our department in an effort to ensure there are more officers on the street keeping everyone safe," Police Director Alphonse Petracco said in a statement.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.