Tree Falls On Car, Smash And Grab Theft: Newtown Police Activity

The following recent incidents were reported by Newtown Township Police:

June 23

Just after 2 a.m., an officer was traveling south on the Newtown Bypass and observed a 2003 Infiniti traveling in front of him. While following the Infiniti, the officer observed it swerve over the white fog line and the white dotted lines separating the lanes of travel on several occasions. The officer then initiated a traffic stop in the area of Woodbourne Road and Lower Silver Lake Road and made contact with the driver. An odor of marijuana was emanating from the vehicle, and a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia was discovered and seized. As a result, the operator was issued a citation for disorderly conduct.

Police were dispatched to the Bucks County Community College at approximately 1:00 p.m. for the report of a missing person. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant who explained that her and her 22 year old daughter had arrived at the college around 9:00 a.m. The complainant said she was there to take a CPR test, and her daughter had said she was going to hang out there until her mother was done. When the complainant was done her test however, she attempted to call and text her daughter numerous times but was not able to make contact. Police and campus security investigated and quickly found the missing daughter in the college’s computer room that is known to have very little phone reception. The complainant and her daughter were reunited, and the complainant was grateful, explaining that she takes nothing for granted.

June 24

Shortly after 5:00 p.m., police responded to the Newtown Athletic Club’s parking lot for the report of a theft from vehicle. The victim explained that she parked her BMW in the parking lot there around 11:00 am that morning and when she returned she saw that the driver’s side rear passenger window had been smashed. The victim’s Louis Vuitton handbag was stolen along with her work laptop and some other items. Police processed the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

June 25

At approximately 1:15 am police responded to an Ardsley Court residence for the report of a suspicious circumstance. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant who said that someone had punched/banged on the back door of her residence and she did not know who it was. Police checked the area with negative contact.

A Bethlehem resident responded to police headquarters around 2:40 pm to report a theft that may have occurred at the Newtown Township Bank of America branch on 2900 South Eagle Road. The victim said several weeks ago, while she was attending an event at a public park in Bethlehem, PA, her vehicle had been broken into by someone unknown to her. During this incident, her handbag, wallet, and driver’s license had been stolen, and this original theft was reported to the Bethlehem police department. Then on June 23, the victim received a message from her bank that her account had been overdrawn. The bank informed the victim that this was due to a fraudulent check that was cashed at the Newtown Township branch in addition to a fraudulent withdrawal made from the same bank location. The total value of loss was over $3,600. An investigation is ongoing.

Around 6:30 p.m., police were dispatched to Durham Road for a tree that fell into the roadway, striking a vehicle as it fell. Upon arrival, officers tried to remove the tree from the roadway, but they were not able to successfully remove it all so PennDOT was notified. Police documented the damage to the struck vehicle which included a damaged passenger mirror, broken windshield, and several dents from the tree.

June 26

At 12:20 am an officer was traveling north on Washington Crossing Road when he observed a white Chevrolet Cruze driving directly in front of him that swerved over the white fog line twice. The officer initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the vehicle’s operator and passenger. Immediately, the officer could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A small amount of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia was discovered and seized. The passenger was issued a disorderly conduct citation.

June 28

A Newtown Township resident responded to headquarters at approximately 10 a.m. to report a suspicious piece of mail he had received. The correspondence included a letter and a likely counterfeit check in the amount of $1,954.81. The letter contained instructions for the complainant to cash the check and retain $350.00 as assignment pay. The remaining funds were to be sent as Walmart transfers to different locations. The complainant recognized this as a scam immediately, did not respond, and brought the documents to the police department. Police confirmed his suspicions that this was a scam.

Just before 11:15 a.m., a Wrightstown Township company’s project manager reported the theft of plywood sheets from their construction site. The theft had occurred sometime during the week prior. The total approximate value of loss is $1,800 to $2,000. Extra police patrol for the construction site was requested.