Crime and Fire

Holiday Light Vandalism Continues in Lower Mac, Police Say

Instances of cut wires are again leaving decorators in the dark, troopers report.

If you think that Santa this holiday season was looking for those who were naughty and nice, so were the state police. OK, troopers were mostly looking for those who were naughty, including one or more people who were cutting the wires on Christmas lights in Lower Macungie Township. Yes, back by unpopular demand, the occurrences have returned from last season. State police at Fogelsville have reported several instances of criminal mischief involving outdoor holiday lighting, including the following: -- Mary Sullivan Taranto of 7018 Tuscany Drive; wires cut on one set of Christmas lights in her backyard between 10 p.m. Dec. 3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 4; -- William John Mooney of the 7000 block of Periwinkle Drive; one light string cut  between Dec. …

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Crime and Fire

Lower Mac Vandal Builds Hazardous Mess

Acts against a homeowner included ripping out plants, stacking patio furniture to block a door and tying rope around a front porch, troopers say.

Say this for him: The vandal who recently struck in Lower Macungie certainly was industrious. Beyond that, he also certainly made a mess . . . and it wasn't at all appreciated. The sight outside Judith Danner's 5475 East Texas Road home must have been unbelievable. Plants from the side of her house were ripped out and stacked on a pile on the front porch, according to state police at Fogelsville. Around the back, patio furniture was stacked against the back door, blocking the exit. Rope was tied around the front porch, police said. Fencing for tomatoes was strewn around the yard. And rain gutters were folded against the house. The incident occurred between 5:50 and 6:15 p.m. Dec. 10, police said. The vandal was seen in a video tape riding …

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Crime and Fire

Christmas Decoration Vandalism Off to Early Start

Damage to holiday decorations is reported in Lower Macungie, troopers says.

Starting early this year, we see. Instead of getting a jump on holiday shopping, unfortunately, we're talking about an early act of vandalism done to holiday lights in Lower Macungie Township. Readers may recall a spate of vandalism last Christmas season being done to outdoor lights in portions of the township. The acts primarily were cut strings of lights. This year, state police at Fogelsville said that lights were damaged belonging to Brian Cote of the 7100 block of Tuscany Drive. Police did not specify how the damage was done or the value of the loss but said the criminal mischief took place between 9 p.m. Nov. 27 and 6 p.m. Nov. 28. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-395-1438.

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Vandal Smashes Garage Window in Lower Macungie

State police report vandalism in Lower Macungie.

Someone smashed a garage door window and door handle at a property in Lower Macungie, according to state police at Fogelsville.  The criminal mischief was done to the property of Stuart G. Rogers in the 2500 block of Riverbend Road sometime from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10, troopers said. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 610-395-1438.  

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Crime and Fire

Vehicle Damages Lehigh CC Golf Course

Motorist damages grass at Lehigh Country Club in Lower Macungie, police say.

It's not unusual for drivers to cause divots on Lehigh Country Club's golf course, but this one had nothing to do with a wood and a tee shot. Instead, the driver was operating a vehicle that dug up an area on the course at 2319 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township, according to state police at Fogelsville. No description of the vehicle was offered, but police said the vandalism occurred between midnight and 5:30 a.m. Aug. 16. No damage estimate was given. Police ask that anyone with information about the criminal mischief incident contact them at 610-395-1438.

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Crime and Fire

Vandals Poke Holes in a Lower Mac Swimming Pool

Act of criminal mischief causes $400 in damage, police say.

To date, this summer in Lower Macungie Township was generally a mischievous one, but generally without much malicious damage. Yes, several homeowners were no doubt annoyed to wake to find patio furniture floating in their pools. Presumably, a few people got a few chuckles out of the intended pranks, some homeowners got a bit steamed then got over it, but little true damage was done. However, that changed overnight Aug. 14 and 15 when someone entered the yard at 6365 Larch Lane, according to state police at Fogelsville. Between 9 p.m. and 6:15 a.m., someone punctured seven holes in the swimming pool owned by Michael Kells at that address. Police did not detail how the damage was done, but they estimated that the holes caused $399 in damage…

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Crime and Fire

Police: Criminal Mischief Victim Describes Trespasser

State police welcome phone calls that may lead to arresting Lower Macungie vandals.

Another night, another act of criminal mischief reported in Lower Macungie. On Tuesday we suggested in tongue-in-cheek fashion that state troopers might resort to conducting police lineups involving members of local baseball teams. The effort might identify those who have outstanding arms capable of tossing the eggs, rocks, backyard furniture and even jar candles that have been reported of late. But one sign of hope was the recent sighting of a red Dodge or Chrysler van that a witness said was involved in a criminal mischief incident. Today we have another. A woman in the 4900 block of Pine Grove Circle said someone damaged a metal panel on her front screen door about 4:55 a.m. July 30, according to state police at Fogelsville. The …

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Crime and Fire

Criminal Mischief in Lower Mac Continues

More incidents reported of eggs, rocks and even a jar candle being thrown at vehicles, police say.

Short of putting together a police lineup composed of members from area baseball teams and testing their arms, state troopers may have few ideas for what to do to stop the recent barrage of vandalism in Lower Macungie Township involving thrown objects. One additional clue that might be helpful, however, was that a red Dodge or Chrysler minivan was seen leaving one neighborhood following an incident, police said. While it's true there have been some clusters of activity, no clear pattern is apparent. And the weapons of choice this summer have varied from eggs to rocks to patio furniture. Even a stray jar candle wasn't safe. It didn't do the vehicle it hit much good, either. Several incidents were reported the weekend of July 21 and 22. Mark…

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Vandalism Reported in Lower Macungie

Vandals damaged a fence and a car in Lower Macungie, state police say.

Someone put a dent in the front passenger door and another in a rear passenger door of a vehicle parked at 3369 Route 100 in Lower Macungie, according to state police at Fogelsville. The incident happened about 9 p.m. Monday. The vehicle owner lives on Aster Road in Lower Macungie.  In another incident, sometime between 9 p.m. Saturday and 6:45 a.m. Sunday, someone damaged a front yard fence at 5486 Princeton Road in Lower Macungie, troopers said.  Anyone with information about the incidences is asked to call state police at 610-395-1438. 

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Crime and Fire

Three Charged in Lower Mac Egg-tossing Incidents

Eleven vehicles are hit within three blocks, police say.

It must have been great fun for a time. Lobbing eggs at vehicles only to have them splatter like bursting fireworks. In fact, it must have been so much fun, that throwing eggs at just one car wouldn't do. In all, yolk ran from 11 vehicles in the early hours of July 3 in the 2900 through 3200 blocks of  Sequoia Drive in Lower Macungie Township, according to state police at Fogelsville. But the fun stopped for three young men accused of throwing the eggs. Police have charged two underage boys and Braden Lawrence Rikli, 18, of Emmaus with disorderly conduct associated with tossed eggs. The incidents weren't much fun for the victims, either, although police reported that there was no permanent damage to any of the vehicles. The above arrest …

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