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

Death Threat Received by Lower Macungie Man, Police Say

The following incidents have been reported by state police. They do not indicate conviction.

Criminal mischief: Reported at 6714 Lower Macungie Road, Apt. D7; the door locks of the residence were vandalized between 11 am. and 6 p.m. Sept. 15 then made inoperable when an unknown substance was poured into the locks, police said; unspecified value of loss. Theft from motor vehicle: Reported by three owners in the 900 block of S. Krocks Road in the High Point Trailer Park; unspecified items taken from unlocked vehicles belonging to Deana Marie Homa, Samuel Thomas Peters and Annabelle Faye Kehm between 10 p.m. Sept. 14 and 8 a.m. Sept. 15, police said; no value given. Burglary: Reported at 1:46 a.m. Sept. 9 by Cherie Prudhomme at 4085 Pheasant Court; someone attempted to enter the home by jumping over a fence and kicking in a door …

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Crime and Fire

Lower Mac Thieves Love Unlocked Cars

A wallet alone was not good enough for one Lower Mac car burglar.

Was the wallet just a tease to a petty thief looking for more or was that petty thief just a bit snobbish? Either way, after entering the unlocked vehicle of Lorraine Ziello in her driveway at 2920 Sequoia Drive on June 15, that thief tossed the wallet on the car's floor and left without taking anything, according to police. The attempted theft from a motor vehicle was reported at 9:15 p.m. to state police at Fogelsville. Presumably finding nothing of interest, the thief left. Whether similar acts within a few days were done by the same person or someone else, the following thefts from motor vehicles also were reported: -- Robert Kreiger of the 7000 block of Tuscany Drive said a GPS was taken from his unlocked vehicle between 7 p.m. June …

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Crime and Fire

Lower Mac Buyer's Suspicion Leads to Arrest

Laptop serial numbers match one stolen in North Whitehall, police say.

Just one of the two elements of this police report would be considered somewhat unusual, but both coming together would have to be long odds indeed. The first unusual occurrence was the recovery of a laptop computer that was stolen from a woman's vehicle in North Whitehall Township. The second one was a Lower Macungie buyer who presumably thought he was getting a good deal on the laptop later checking with police to see if it was stolen. Put the two together, and state police at Fogelsville say they have their man in a March case of theft from a motor vehicle. The incident began March 13 when Joanne Diantonio of Briarwood Drive in North Whitehall reported that her vehicle was entered and the laptop taken, police said. Next, Peter Iaccarion…

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Crime and Fire

Thief Helps Himself to Lower Mac Contractor's Tools

Building and power implements taken from builder's vehicles parked outside office building, police say.

Live in Lower Macungie and need some nuts, bolts or screws? Maybe the tools with which to use them? Or, how about some building materials? There are a few stores within the township that sell any or all of these products. Despite this convenience, someone recently helped themself to some of the inventory of a local contractor, according to state police at Fogelsville. Between 7 p.m. May 10 and 6:30 a.m. May 11, police said someone forcibly entered three company vehicles belonging to Kay Builders Inc. at their 5930 Hamilton Blvd., Suite 10, facility. Numerous power tools and building tools were stolen. No value was given for the items or damage to the vehicles. The crime was classified as theft from motor vehicle.

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Vehicle Break-in Suspects Captured After Chase

Macungie police say assisting department used spike strip to puncture tire, stop fleeing thieves.

A resident's tip, police teamwork and a sharp device combined early Wednesday to deflate the plans of a pair who were stealing valuables from vehicles in Macungie, according to police. The drama began when borough police received a call from a resident about 4:45 a.m. that someone was looking inside of cars at the Brookfield Apartments in the area of Brookfield Drive and Brookfield Circle, borough police said. A Macungie officer was nearby and saw a man duck behind a parked car. Emmaus police were called to help search. When the Emmaus officers arrived, a vehicle with two men was seen fleeing, police said. Officers from both departments took up the chase. Officers sought assistance from South Whitehall Township police as the chase headed …

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get real

7:26 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012

I agree, great job, well done and thank you to the citizen and all police departments that were involved. To the police departments; the majority of citizens appreciate and respect what you do on a dailey basis to keep us safe, THANK YOU!   more ›

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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Crime and Fire

Thefts from Vehicles Abound

Pennsylvania State Police report recent Lower Macungie Township incidents.

The following incidents recently were reported by state police at Fogelsville: Theft from motor vehicle: three incidents reported overnight April 5 at 2037 Rolling Meadow Drive, 6122 Timberknoll Drive and 2184 Greenmeadow Drive;  items taken included a laptop computer, nursing books, shoes, clothing and change, police said; no value given. Theft from motor vehicle: Reported overnight April 5 by James Fosbenner of 1390 S. Krocks Road; $50 taken from unlocked vehicle parked at his home, police said. Access device fraud: Reported March 21 by Denise Conklin Murphy of 1132 Treeline Drive; unauthorized use of victim's credit card with $29.95 purchase and attempt to open a PayPal account, police said. Criminal mischief: Reported April 8 by an 86-…

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Crime and Fire

Lower Macungie Thief Hones In on GPS

Electronics devices are stolen from unlocked vehicle, police say.

A Lancaster-area woman got a new sense of direction from her GPS recently while visiting Lower Macungie: Lock your vehicle. Maria Margaret Chesteron reported to state police at Fogelsville that her GPS and a cell phone charger were taken from her unlocked vehicle between 8 p.m. and 4 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21. The vehicle was in the 4000 block of Pheasant Court. No value for the loss was given. Police ask that anyone with information call them at 610-395-1438.  

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Crime and Fire

Police Hoping to Put Charges to Lower Mac Battery Thieves

Store reports that 30 to 40 were stolen from area behind the store, police say.

Here's a tip. If you are offered a great deal to buy a car battery -- oh, let's say out of the back of someone's vehicle -- and that car battery is smoking but not connected, you might not want to take the deal. As of the morning of Dec. 20, Wal-Mart in Lower Macungie was missing 30 to 40 car batteries. Get the possible connection? The store at 1091 Mill Creek Road reported the theft at 5:43 a.m. from an enclosed area to the rear of the building, according to state police at Fogelsville. No value was given, but anyone with any information is asked to call police at 610-395-1438. In other Lower Macungie incidents: Counterfeit currency: Reported Dec. 19 at Wal-Mart, 1091 Mill Creek Road; purchase of Visa gift card with counterfeit money, …

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