After Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm, home generators have become a hot commodity in Northern New Jersey, especially with power outages in some areas like Millburn and Short Hills lasting up to nine days.

Now, it seems, they have become an even hotter item.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, The Millburn Police Department answered a call on West Beachcroft, where a resident reported that sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Friday night and 7:30 a.m. on Saturday someone stole a $5,000 generator that was kept outside.

Police are still investigating the case, along with the following crimes in this week’s police blotter:

• Shoplifting: On Nov. 30 at 7:27 a.m. the Millburn Police Department responded to Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Short Hills on a report of a shoplifting incident.  Neiman Marcus Loss Prevention was detaining 22-year-old Jillian Altenburger of Mendham for allegedly concealing a pair of jeans with a value of $196 and a coat valued at $797 and attempting to exit the store. Altenburger was arrested, charged with shoplifting, processed and released pending her court hearing.

• DUI: On Dec. 1 at 11:23 a.m. Patrol Officers Michael Fattal and Peter Smeraldo observed a black Nissan weaving out of traffic on South Orange Avenue westbound.  They pulled over the vehicle to find that the driver, 51-year-old Michel Jacob of Newark was driving with a suspended license.  Further investigation determined that Jacob was operating the vehicle in an “intoxicated manner” and an open beer was found in the vehicle. Jacob was arrested and transported to the Millburn Police Department Headquarters for processing, charged with driving on a suspended license, operating under the influence of alcohol, and refusal to submit to breath samples.  He was released to a friend pending his court hearing.

• Shoplifting: On Dec. 3 at 4:04 p.m. the Millburn Police Department responded to Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Short Hills on a shoplifting report. Neiman Marcus Loss Prevention personnel had detained a female juvenile from East Orange for allegedly concealing a $167 pair of jeans and exiting the store. The girl was arrested, transported to Millburn Police Department Headquarters, processed and released to her parents.

• Possession of stolen property, controlled substance:  On Dec. 3 at 4:38 p.m.  Officers Michael Fattal and Peter Smeraldo pulled over a Honda Civic for traveling at a slow rate of speed.  During the course of the investigation, the 28-year-old driver Sarah Carrion  of Berkeley Heights and 23-year-old passenger Stephanie Fricke of Parsippany were found in possession of more than $1,200 of allegedly stolen property from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Short Hills. Both women were arrested and charged with the possession of stolen property. Carrion was also charged with impeding the flow of traffic and possession of a control dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, namely a morphine pill and oxycodone pills. Both women were released pending their court dates.

• Shoplifting: On Dec. 2 at 8:30 p.m. the Millburn Police Department responded to Macy’s Department Store at The Mall at Short Hills on a shoplifting report.  Macy’s Loss Prevention had detained 46-year-old Serena Adams of Union. Adams allegedly concealed several clothing items totaling $477 and attempted to exit the store. Adams was arrested, processed, and released pending her court hearing.

• Marijuana possession: On Dec. 5 at 1:59 a.m. Sergeant Michael Mulligan observed a 1998 Toyota make an illegal left turn onto Route 124 from Millburn Avenue. After pulling over the driver, Mulligan’s investigation found that the driver, 22-year-old Emmanuell Exantus of Maplewood was in possession of marijuana in the vehicle. Exantus was arrested, charged with possession of controled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS paraphernalia, possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle charges. In addition, there was an outstanding criminal warrant from Maplewood Township for Exantus. Upon processing, Exantus was released pending his court hearing.