Grocery Store Thefts, Diesel Fuel Siphoned: Lower Makefield Crimes

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — With gas prices high at the pump, some residents are taking other measures to acquire fuel — by siphoning it from other gas tanks.

The Lower Makefield Township Police Department has released its blotter of criminal incidents for the past week.

These are the criminal incidents:

April 16

HARASSMENT — 500 block of Grange Drive, reported at 10:02 a.m. The complainant reported ongoing harassment by a neighbor. The 21-year-old township man was cited for harassment.

April 15

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF — 900 block of Bushell Lane, reported at 12:23 p.m. The complainant reported that an unknown person(s) slashed their vehicle’s tire.

April 14

RETAIL THEFT — 700 block of Stony Hill Road at Giant Food Store reported at 9:51 a.m. The complainant reported being harassed and accused of stealing by staff. Further investigation
revealed she concealed $28.06 worth of merchandise without paying. It also revealed she removed a beverage and hanging plant from McCaffrey’s Market. The 45-year-old township woman was taken into police custody for Retail Theft.

April 13

IDENTITY THEFT — 2300 block of Lakeview Drive, reported at 12:45 p.m. The complainant reported unknown person(s) attempted to open a bank account in their name.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD — 1600 block of Bluebird Drive, reported at 12:29 p.m. The complainant reported an unauthorized use of their credit card for $715.49.

THEFT FROM VEHICLE — 1900 block of Polo Run Drive, reported at 4:32 p.m. The complainant reported that sometime between 4/10 –4/13, an unknown person(s) forced entry into the locked vehicle and removed $600.00 worth of tools.

RETAIL THEFT — 900 block of Vansant Drive at Wegmans, reported at 7:37 p.m. Police responded to the report of a retail theft in progress. Police located the subject outside the store. Loss Prevention agreed to let the woman pay for the items. She was trespassed from all Wegmans stores.

April 11

DUI ARREST — Oxford Valley Road and Big Oak Road, reported at 5:44 a.m. Police responded to the report of a vehicle parked at the traffic signal. Further investigation led to the arrest of the 36-year-old female driver from Trenton, N.J. for Driving Under the Influence.

THEFT — 300 block of Oxford Valley Road, reported at 11:06 a.m. The complainant reported sometime between 4/8-4/11, an unknown person(s) broke the fuel cap on their Caterpillar skid steer and siphoned approximately 15 gallons of diesel fuel. Investigation ongoing.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT – River Road and Woodside Road, reported at 2:22 p.m. The complainant reported an unknown man yelling under the bridge and acting strangely. He was also observed damaging a stop sign. Police arrived on the scene and located the male walking in the middle of River Road, disrupting traffic, with an open container of alcohol. The 21-year-old man from Ewing, N.J. was cited for Disorderly Conduct and Public Drunkenness.

April 10

FRAUD:

• Unit block of Townsend Road, reported at 9:40 a.m. The complainant reported being the victim of contractor fraud for $198,000.
• 500 block of Keating Drive, reported at 2:56 p.m. The complainant reported being a victim of a fraudulent passport website.
• IDENTITY THEFT — 1000 block of Victory Drive, reported at 10:25 a.m. The complainant reported that an unknown person(s) opened a credit card in their name and charged $8,000.
• RETAIL THEFT — 1600 block of Big Oak Road at Kohl’s, reported at 8:13 p.m. Loss Prevention reported an unknown woman removed an unknown amount of merchandise from the store. An investigation is ongoing.