Police Arrest Alleged Play N' Trade Thief

A man living in Union City was arrested this week for his role in an in the A&P Shopping Center on Franklin Turnpike, Police Chief James Batelli said. Roberto Cobian, 41, was arrested at his apartment and charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief for his alleged involvement in the April 20 burglary in which three suspects got away with over $39,000 in merchandise, Batelli said.

Cobian was also charged with burglary and criminal mischief at the vacant shop next to the Play N’ Trade, which he allegedly used as a point of entry to the gaming store, Batelli said. Three “suspects initially entered through the vacant store and then gained access to the Play N' Trade store by crawling through a gap in the cinder block wall between the two stores. Once inside they disabled the store's burglar alarm,” he said.

According to police, the other two suspects in the burglary are believed to be no longer in the country. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents were notified to investigate Cobain's status in this country, Batelli said.

The merchandise stolen from the store has not been recovered, Batelli said.

Corbain’s bail was set at $100,000. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail, police said.

Batelli said surveillance images from the Play N' Trade store, nearby businesses and technology from the helped lead to the arrest. However, Batelli credited an “extensive investigation” by Mahwah Police Officer Michael Grassi and Detective Kevin Hebert under the direction of Detective Lieutenant Martin Clancy, and the “dedicated and persistent police work by Officer Grassi,” with the arrest.

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