Plumstead Police Make Arrests For Trespassing, Identity Theft

PLUMSTEAD TOWNSHIP, PA — The Plumstead Township Police Department reported the following incidents and arrests between Sept. 9 and Sept. 14:

September 9

• At 2:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Giant on Swamp Road for a retail theft. When the officers arrived, they were met by a store employee who told police that a known individual was seen in the self-checkout not scanning all the items in the cart before proceeding to the exit without paying for $178 worth of groceries. The case is under investigation.

September 10

• At 12:26 p.m., a Plumstead resident reported an issue of fraud that took place on her bank account. The resident told police that more than $33,000 was withdrawn from a check that was compromised. The case is under investigation.
• At 3:46 p.m., officers responded to the area of Easton Road for a verbal domestic. Officers were able to deescalate the situation.

September 12

• At 11:15 a.m., officers responded to the Giant on Easton Road for a theft. When officers arrived, they met a store customer who told police that he had dropped his wallet in the parking lot and when he went to look for it, it was not there. Officers viewed video footage and saw an unknown individual pick up the wallet and then walk out of view of the camera. Officers are looking at other cameras in the area to see if they are able to identify the individual. The customer was provided a victim's rights packet and was informed to contact his banks. The case remains under investigation.
• At 2:26 p.m., officers responded to an alarm at Tru-Mark Financial on Swamp Rd. When officers arrived, they were informed by an employee that an individual came into the branch and tried to use a fake passport. When confronted by an employee, the individual left the bank. The employees were able to obtain vehicle information and a direction of travel. With the assistance of the Bedminster Police Department officers were able to conduct a traffic stop and arrested a 29-year-old woman from Stroudsburg for Identity theft. Police also discovered that she had out of state warrants. She was processed and arraigned and was transported to the Bucks County Correctional Facility. A passenger, a 32-year-old New York man, was also arrested on an out of state warrant. The case remains open.

September 13

• At 3:53 p.m., a Plumstead resident came into the station to file a theft report. The resident said he was contacted through his church email by someone posing as a man in Nigeria and needed him to send him $500 for food. The complainant used Western Union to send the requested funds. He then received an email from someone claiming to be a representative from the American Legal Group and the complainant was identified as someone who was inadvertently funding a Nigerian terrorist operation and that he needed legal representation to defend him. They requested that he send $2,900 as a legal retainer and the complainant sent the funds requested. The incident remains under investigation.

September 14

• At 8:49 p.m., officers responded to Louise Saint Claire Drive for a burglary. The officers arrived and met with the homeowners who stated that early in the day their ring camera picked up a known person who entered their house without permission. The inside video surveillance showed the known actor open up a child’s backpack and remove a house key. Officers arrested the 37-year-0ld Cheltenham man for criminal trespassing.