A Fair Lawn man was charged by Paramus police in connection with a string of car burglaries, police said Monday. 

Rick L. Compton, 53, was arrested Jan. 9 and charged with burglary and possession of stolen property.

Police increased patrols and started an investigation after a series of burglaries in November and December, in which handbags, iPods, Christmas gifts and other items were taken from cars, Capt. Kenneth Ehrenberg said.   

Police broke the case after interviewing a witness to a Dec. 15 burglary at the Mid-Ridge Shopping Plaza on 651 Route 17 south, Ehrenberg said.

Compton was sent to Bergen County Jail on $20,000 bail.