WPD Reports: Suspected DUI Crash, Bizarre Phone Call, Stolen Reindeer

All information is according to official police reports filed at the Whitemarsh Township Police Department. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Fraud:
At approximately 9:14 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, a resident of the 4100 block of Residential Drive, Lafayette Hill, called police to report a scammer that was continually calling her home.

The woman told police that a heavily accented male continued to call her home claiming that she had won a large sum of money, despite her hanging up on the calls. A police officer dialed the number, and a heavily accented male told him he had won $250,000. When the officer told the man of his profession, the man said that he “knew where [he] lived and put a bomb in [his] house,” a police report said.

Police called back from a different number and played along with the scammer, who told them they had won $250,000 and would need to mail a $500 check, but hung up upon realizing he himself was being scammed. Police called a third time, but the man apparently realized he was not talking to a potential victim, told police he was with the CIA and was recording the conversation, and hung up.

The number is 876-295-3525.

Suspected DUI accident:
At approximately 5:37 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, police were dispatched to the 400 block of Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, for the report of a two-vehicle accident. Upon arrival, police determined that a westbound GMC truck attempted to make a left turn into a parking lot and was struck by a second vehicle traveling east.

Police identified the driver of the truck as a 41-year-old Barren Hill Road man, and located 12 empty Bud Ice beer cans in plain view inside his vehicle, an accident report said.

Police also said that suspect smelled of alcohol, had extremely slurred speech, and was unsteady on his feet. The suspect failed several field sobriety tests and registered a .173 percent blood alcohol level on a breathalyzer test, according to the report.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for a chemical blood test.

Fraud:
At approximately 3:49 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, a resident of Wedgewood Drive, Blue Bell, reported to police that someone had filed tax returns in Florida using her name, address, and social security number in the last two years.  The woman told police that one tax refund was also sent to a second address in Florida.

Criminal mischief:
At approximately 8:51 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, an employee of the Lu Lu Temple at 5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, told police that someone had knocked over a light post in their parking lot overnight. After investigating, police found tire tracks in the grass on both sides of the property’s driveway, along with impact marks approximately three feet up on the light post, which had been completely knocked off its cement base.

Employees estimated the damages at $1,000.

Reindeer theft: At approximately 11:43 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, a resident of the 800 block of Penn Street, Fort Washington, reported to police that someone had removed a white reindeer lawn ornament from her lawn sometime after 8 p.m. the night before.

Police searched the neighborhood for the reindeer, but were unable to find it. The ornament was valued at $60.

Trespassing:
At approximately 10:36 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, police had to remove a Lafayette Hill woman from a Oakwyn Road home after she violated a judge’s order vacate the property.