Crime and Fire

Frisbees Among Items Stolen from Cars, Police Say

Purse and car stereo face plate were more likely the targets of thieves entering cars in Lower Macungie Township.

Almost as fast as you can say Wham-o, one or more thieves made off with some valuables in a Lower Macungie Township neighborhood, including some Frisbees. It's likely that the Frisbees weren't the real target, but several of the flying discs got snatched up in the loot anyway during the most recent incidence of thefts from motor vehicles in the township, police said. True, the Frisbees were of stated competition quality, but it's more likely that they were victims of circumstance, yielding to the more popular woman's handbag and car stereo face plate. A backpack and some other items were taken as well, police said. Vehicles owned by Brandon Mulcahy, 23, of Whitehall and Hannah Griffith, 35, of Lower Macungie were parked in the 3600 block …

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Crime and Fire

Homeowner Hears Intruder Open Door, Police Say

Lower Macungie woman at home likely scared away a burglar who entered through an unlocked door, troopers report.

With all of the attention paid to vehicle break-ins lately in Lower Macungie Township, a reported home burglary reminds us there are other threats out there. According to state police at Fogelsville, someone entered the home of Robin and Robert Paradise at 4910 Briarwood Drive about 8:45 a.m. Jan. 23. Robin Paradise told police that she heard the unlocked back door open and close; however, she did not see anyone. It was unknown whether someone entered the home or just opened the door to see if anyone was at home. Police said that nothing was taken. The incident is being investigated as an incident of criminal trespass, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-395-1438.

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Police: Resident May Have Surprised Upper Milford Burglar

Woman heard a house door open at 6:30 a.m., but found no one, troopers report.

A burglar apparently was scared off recently when he realized residents were home at the Upper Milford Township house he was attempting to enter, according to police. James Effting called police after his wife told him she heard a door open to their Main Road W. home about 6:30 a.m. Dec. 20, according to state police at Fogelsville. She searched inside and out but saw no one. A further check of the residence determined that nothing had been disturbed or taken, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-395-1438.

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Crime and Fire

Police: Auction 'Steal' Gets Literal At Wlazelek Gallery

Burglary is second recent break-in at the Route 100 auction gallery, troopers report.

Persistence may pay off for a bidder in winning an auction item. It also may pay off in getting an auction steal. For someone, persistence may have meant stealing from the auction house. One thing is certain: Someone made off with several items after recently burglarizing Wlazelek Auction Gallery, according to state police at Fogelsville. The burglar forced entry at 2571 Route 100 and took several unspecified items between 1 and 6:40 a.m. Dec. 7. No value was released on the items. State police also reported an attempted burglary at the same location at an unknown time on Nov. 15. On that occasion, someone gained entry by removing a window, but police reported that it appeared that nothing was missing. Anyone with information is asked to …

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Crime and Fire

Farmington Hills Targeted, Police Say

Troopers advise locking cars and moving valuables inside your home when not driving.

You could say that a burglar trolling a neighborhood for valuables had varied interests when considering the items recently taken from vehicles. Or is it more likely that they just grabbed whatever they thought they could find to resell? Yeah, let's go with that one. Either way, at least seven vehicles were entered overnight Friday into Saturday in the Farmington Hills development in Lower Macungie Township, according to state police at Fogelsville. The vehicles were entered between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Items taken varied from GPSes, guitars, money, a purse and six toy Nerf guns. Several of the vehicles were unlocked, but in two instances windows were smashed, police said. The break-ins occurred along Goldenrod Drive, in the 7300 block of …

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Crime and Fire

Burglars Target Jewelry in Lower Mac Neighborhood

Two break-ins are in same neighborhood, police say, but entry time is months apart.

Two recent Lower Macungie Township burglaries reported by police and involving stolen jewelry offer similarities, but happened months apart, police say. In the earlier break-in, state police at Fogelsville said they received a report on Aug. 28 of a burglary at 4799 Sydney Close. A prying device, such as a crowbar, was used on a door to force entry. Once inside, four pieces of jewelry were taken. Police did not provide a description or total value of the stolen items. No other items were taken. The break-in was reported by an 81-year-old woman, police said. She told them the incident occurred between Nov. 24, 2011 and May 30, 2012. In the second  burglary, Joseph H. McMakin of 5014 Valley Stream Lane, No. 91, told police his home was …

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Crime and Fire

Macungie Break-in Nets $1,000 in Electronics

Witnesses may call police to assist in solving the crime.

A burglar broke into a Macungie residence recently, taking an estimated $1,000 in electronics, according to borough police. The residence, on N. Church Street, was entered either May 26 or 27, according to Chief Ed Harry. Numerous electronics items were taken. Anyone with information may call police at 610-966-2222.

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Responsible Citizen

1:22 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012

Yes I agree with Another Voice...listening to Ricky Hoffman and some hard-headed Macungie Council members....they INSIST on no need for 24/7 police coverage! They continue to defy statistics presented by our MPD AND the wishes of the community. Consequently they will play roulette with our borough's safety!! The next election cannot come fast enough!   more ›

Crime and Fire

Burglar Smashes Glass Door in Lower Mac Smoke Shop Heist

Unspecified items are taken in early-morning break-in at The Smokin' Zone, police say.

A Lower Macungie Township smoke shop has even hotter items than usual. That's because someone smashed a glass door in the early hours of May 19 and made off with numerous unspecified merchandise, according to state police at Bethlehem. No value of the merchandise was provided. The Smokin' Zone at 1091 Mill Creek Road was broken into between 2 and 2:12 a.m., police said. A metallic-colored sedan was seen leaving the area, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-395-1438.

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Crime and Fire

Again: Lock Your Car Doors

Four more break-ins to unsecured vehicles reported in Lower Macungie, police say.

It seems monotonous . . . except to the latest victims. Seemingly each week, police release reports of new vehicle break-ins in Lower Macungie Township. It would be unfair to expect state police at Fogelsville troopers to be everywhere at one, so their main message has been this: At least lock your vehicle doors to give yourself a reasonable chance to deter theft and keep your items yours.  While some thefts from motor vehicles in the township have involved forced entry, the majority of the reports have specified that vehicles were unlocked when entered by thieves. Such was the case in the four latest reports, according to police. Several unspecified items were removed from the vehicle of Kristi Curtis of Wind Gap as she was parked at 5382…

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