Police have arrested a 43-year-old Nutley man who allegedly committed dozens of “snatch and run” thefts using a similar method and often targeting a particular brand of jacket.


A theft of North Face jackets worth $2,800 at a Ski Barn outlet on Rt. 23 kicked off a three-week search that involved the use of regional crime databases, multiple law enforcement agencies and surveillance, culminating with the arrest of Anthony Cervino Wednesday, Capt. Mark McGrath said in a statement.


Wayne police responded to the store Oct. 15 and were told by employees that a man entered, snatched an armful of the coats and fled, throwing the goods into the back of a dark-colored SUV.


After reviewing surveillance video, Wayne police alerted other departments about the particulars of the crime and also entered the information into a retail-crime database maintained by the New York Police Department.


The retailer Sports Authority contacted Wayne police after seeing the information posted on the database, informing the department of a thief who stole North Face jackets at a number of their locations, including in Secaucus the day after the Wayne incident, McGrath said. The man kept his vehicle -- described as a blue Toyota 4Runner -- idling in the fire lane as he grabbed the goods, Sports Authority staff told police. Wayne police also spoke with other police departments to find out if there were similar thefts in their jurisdictions. Police were eventually able to trace the vehicle to Cervino, of Passaic Avenue in Nutley, McGrath said.


Wayne police coordinated with local law enforcement from Manalapan to Clifton, as well as the FBI and State Police, on a surveillance operation, with Wayne and Paramus police following Cervino Wednesday to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store at the Rockaway Mall after he was spotted in Newark and East Orange. He was then followed to a Modell’s outlet in Parsippany, where he reportedly left the SUV idling as he entered the store.


Moments later Cervino rushed out carrying an armful of Nike hoodies and was arrested, McGrath said.


Police believe Cervino is responsible for at least 28 thefts in a dozen different locations across eight counties. He has been charged by police in Wayne, Paramus and East Brunswick, although more charges are expected, McGrath said.


Cervino was being held Thursday at the Passaic County Jail on $20,000 bail.