Full Notification

On Monday, May 21, a resident in the 1800 block of Becker Street (located in the northern part of the township) reported a burglary that had just been discovered.

Follow-up investigation revealed that between 4 and 4:30 pm yesterday, the homeowner was working outside at the home when he was approached by a Hispanic male (suspect) with short dark hair, appx. 6'3" tall, who appeared to be in his late 20's to early 30's. The male, who was well dressed and had a name tag around his neck, advised him that his company had been hired by the township to cut down trees in the area. The homeowner and suspect then walked to the rear of the property together. While they were at the rear of the property, the suspect was on a radio with his "boss." The male then left in a small light colored SUV, possibly a Toyota Rav 4. Several hours later, the homeowner discovered that his home had been burglarized.

This type of scam is a distraction burglary. Typically worked in teams, one suspect distracts the homeowner while another commits the burglary. The team uses a communication device to alert the other suspect when the victim is distracted so that the second subject can make entry into the home without being noticed. One of the best ways to catch the people responsible for these types of crimes is to alert the general public, as it is not uncommon for the suspects to reappear in the area to attempt the same scam.

We ask that residents contact us immediately (dial 911) if these suspects are observed in your area. In addition, if you have information about this incident, you are asked to contact our station and speak with Lt. Peter Nickischer, Crime and Community Services Division Commander (484-661-5911, [email protected]). Thank you for your assistance.