Somerset County man charged in alleged $25K theft from Bloomingdale resident, police say
BLOOMINGDALE BOROUGH, N.J. (Passaic County) — A Somerset County man has been arrested and charged after allegedly deceiving an elderly Bloomingdale resident and keeping more than $25,000 from the sale of the victim’s vehicle, according to the Bloomingdale Police Department.
Police said the investigation began in January after receiving a complaint from a family member who believed the resident was being taken advantage of and had lost several thousand dollars.
Authorities said the victim had been befriended by Branislav Vasljevic, 42, of Bridgewater Township, who allegedly gained the victim’s trust during their interactions.
According to police, Vasljevic convinced the victim that he needed a new vehicle and persuaded him to sell his current one. The victim then provided the vehicle to Vasljevic to help facilitate the sale.
During the course of their interactions, Vasljevic allegedly asked the victim for additional money, claiming it was needed to cover various fees related to the transaction.
Police said Vasljevic later sold the vehicle but kept the proceeds, allegedly profiting more than $25,000.
After gathering evidence during the investigation, authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging Vasljevic with theft by deception.
Vasljevic was located and arrested March 6, 2026, and was remanded to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office HUB pending court proceedings.
