JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City police are asking residents for help identifying several men after one of them reportedly walked up to a home carrying a large knife, possibly a machete or saw, during a late-night encounter on Harrison Avenue.
Police said the men were seen knocking on doors around 1:30 a.m. Sept. 16 and were traveling in a white pickup truck whose make and model have not been identified. The incident ended when the resident’s dog started barking and the men ran off.
Police say five men were seen knocking on doors
According to the police alert, about five men were spotted in the area in the early morning hours. Investigators said they were going from door to door near Harrison Avenue, where the activity drew attention because of the time and the behavior described by witnesses.
Police have not said why the men were in the neighborhood or whether they were known to the resident. The alert did say that one man approached the home with the blade while another stayed outside the gate, suggesting the pair may have been trying to assess the property before moving closer.
Large blade carried toward the front door
Police said the man who came to the front of the home was holding what appeared to be a large knife. Investigators described it as possibly a machete or a saw, though the exact type of blade has not been confirmed.
After no one answered the front door, both men walked around the front of the house and appeared to look for another way in, according to police. That detail has made the case especially concerning for residents who may worry about someone testing whether a home is occupied before attempting entry.
Dog barking drove the men away
The encounter did not escalate further after the resident’s dog began barking. Police said the men fled soon after, leaving the home without forcing entry or confronting the resident, based on the information released so far.
Authorities have not said whether anyone was injured or whether the home was damaged. The alert focuses instead on identifying the men and the truck, which police believe may help them trace where the group came from and where they went after leaving the area.
White pickup truck is part of the investigation
Police said the men were operating a white pickup truck of unknown make and model. That vehicle description is one of the main details officers are sharing with the public as they continue to investigate the incident.
Residents are being urged to stay alert for suspicious activity involving either the pictured man or a white pickup truck. The department also released a surveillance image connected to the encounter, hoping someone in the neighborhood may recognize the individual or remember seeing the vehicle before or after the reported door knocking.
How residents can share information
Jersey City police are asking anyone with information to contact them anonymously. The department has not announced any arrests in the case, and investigators appear to be relying in part on tips from the public to help identify the men seen in the area.
For neighbors, the warning is a reminder to report unusual activity quickly, especially when it involves late-night door knocking, a vehicle cruising the block, or someone carrying a weapon near a home. Police have not released additional details about the men’s identities or their destination after the incident.
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