Cops, Courts and Fire

Police Log: Wanted Man Arrested At Hardware Store, Newly Erected Fence At Church Destroyed & More


The following was provided courtesy of the Newtown Township Police Department.

Newtown Township

File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com

July 28

Theft

Just before 3:45 p.m., a Newtown Township resident contacted police to report a theft of jewelry. The total value of loss is approximately $2,800.00. Investigation is ongoing.

July 30

Theft

Police were dispatched to Chandler Hall around 10 a.m. for the report of a theft of an iPad. The total value of loss is approximately $495. Investigation is ongoing.

July 31

Criminal Mischief 

At 9:30 a.m., criminal mischief to the Newtown Reformed Church’s fence was reported. The complainant reported that the fence was erected on Saturday, July 28 and that is had been destroyed by the next day. The complainant provided the property plan and explained that a sturdier fence would be put in to replace the damaged one and video cameras will monitor the area.

Theft

At approximately 3:05 p.m., a worker contacted police to report a theft from the cell phone tower located on Penns Park Road. The complainant reported that Cricket Wireless breaker boxes had been broken into and that copper connecting wire had been stolen. Investigation is ongoing.

August 2

Theft

A Parkview Way resident contacted police around 8:45 am to report the theft of her mountain bike. She stated that it was stolen from outside of her garage. The total value of loss is $200.

August 5

Marijuana Citation 

While on patrol around 12:15 am, an officer observed an occupied vehicle parked in the Playground of Newtown Crossing parking lot area after park hours. The officer made contact with the driver and passenger of the vehicle and detected the odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. Both the driver and the passenger admitted to possessing marijuana and fully cooperated with the officer. A small amount of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia was discovered and confiscated, and citations were issued for disorderly conduct.

August 6

Fraud 

Around 1 p.m., a Newtown Township resident contacted police to report a job offer she had applied for and discovered to be fraudulent. The complainant explained that she had been going through the application process over the phone with someone who claimed to be a representative of the company. The final step of the process was to provide them with personal information and a valid credit card. At this point the complainant terminated the process and contacted the company directly. The company verified that they do not process applications over the phone and that the representative was a fictitious employee. The complainant had not yet suffered any losses, but police recommended steps she could take to prevent and report identity theft.

August 8

Arrest

Newtown Township Police responded to the Newtown Ace Hardware at 11:30 a.m. and took a 35-year-old Langhorne man into custody due to a felony burglary warrant out of Ridley Township in Delaware County that has been active and outstanding since 2015. Barnes was transported to headquarters and remained in custody until Delaware County constables arrived to transport Barnes to Ridley Township for processing. Barnes was arraigned by District Judge Philip S. Turner and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000.

August 9

Fraud

Shortly before 2 p.m., a couple who live on Sycamore Street came to police headquarters to report that they were victims of fraud. They informed police that on August 7 one of them received an email that appeared to be legitimately from their bank so it was opened. The correspondence indicated that Microsoft and the bank had determined that their computer had been compromised. The victim was instructed to call a specific phone number to have Microsoft clean her desktop computer. The fraudulent company required them to send a photo of a personal check for payment. On August 8, it was discovered that their checking account had been debited the amount of $599.99 via an internet check. The check was counterfeit and transacted via the internet by persons unknown to the couple. The situation remains under investigation.


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