Police: Man Stole Checks in Wescosville, Cashed Them for $290

A 46-year-old man who apparently has been in jail on burglary and related charges out of Upper Macungie is facing new charges in a separate case -- this one in Lower Macungie -- for allegedly stealing three checks from a 72-year-old Wescosville woman and cashing them for a total payout of $290.

In the Upper Macungie case, Heith Allen Engleman was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and receiving stolen property in a Nov. 20 incident, according to online court records. The charges were brought by Upper Macungie police.

He was arraigned the same day and committed to Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail, the records say.

Engleman's address in the Upper Macungie case is listed as Allentown. But in the Lower Macungie case, his address is listed as the 200 block of Hottenstein Road in Maxatawny Township, Berks County.

The Lower Macungie case occurred between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, according to a state police at Fogelsville fax. Engleman is accused of stealing three checks from the Wescosville woman, who lives on the 1000 block of Grange Road. He took the checks from the woman's checkbook, which was in her purse inside her home.

The fax says Engleman wrote out the checks payable to his name, forged the woman's signature, then cashed the checks at various branches of National Penn Bank. He wrote out checks worth $290, the fax says.

The Lower Macungie case could not be found in the online records. The state police fax says the case involves theft, fraud and forgery.