Bar Incidents, Fraud Investigations Reported In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Newtown Borough Police Department posted a busy July, beginning with an aggressive driving campaign and continuing with the Newtown Antique and Classic Automobile Show and the town’s celebration of America’s 250th.

During his monthly report to council this week, Chief James Sabath said the department answered 214 calls, including fraud investigations and several bar-related incidents.

Noteworthy calls included the arrest of a 32-year-old Newtown man for causing a disturbance at a borough bar and then refusing to leave.

“We had to convince him to leave,” the chief said.

The chief also reported an incident involving a 36-year-old woman from Philadelphia who was “smacking around some guy” in one of the bars.

The chief also reported on several fraud investigations, including one involving a 49-year-old man who spent money via bitcoin to get rid of a warrant that did not exist.

The chief also reported a “car wrap” scam, in which the victim is sent a large check with instructions to deposit it into their account and then wire a portion of it to a “specialist” to wrap the car in an advertisement.

The problem is, the check is fraudulent, and the victim just sent real money to the scammer. By the time the victim realizes it’s a scam, they’re on the hook for the entire amount of the bounced check.

“Fortunately, our resident did not fall for that,” the chief reported.

The department also participated in an aggressive driving campaign in July through a Bucks County Highway Safety grant.

During the month-long campaign, the department issued 57 citations to motorists for speeding and running red lights.