Crime & Safety

Blotter: Thefts From Nursing Home, Cemetery, Dentist Office, More

The following information was provided by the Marple Township Police Department. Any arrests or charges mentioned do not indicate guilt or conviction.

BROOMALL–On Aug. 7, responded to  for a reported theft. Upon arrival, police spoke with the security officer who told police that a student had checked out a Dell laptop on July 2, 2012. The laptop was due to be returned on July 3. As of Aug. 7, the laptop has not been returned. When the security officer emailed the student about the laptop, the student replied she had “given the laptop to her brother to return for her because she was out of town for an emergency.” In addition, the student stated in an email to the security officer that the laptop would be returned the next day, which has not happened, according to the report. The laptop is valued at approximately $1,020. A criminal complaint was filed against student. 

Man Takes New Motorcycle Battery Without Paying

On Aug. 3, police responded to the at 2916 Springfield Road for a reported theft discovered. Upon arrival, police spoke to the manager who told police that a man had been in the store and had removed a motorcycle battery without paying. The manager told police the man had asked the manager to look up the correct battery for a Honda 650 and then showed the manager a Powersport 12BSFA battery that appeared to be new, according to the report. The man told the manager that it was his old battery that had died, according to the report. The man then observed the man leave the store without paying for the battery. It was later discovered that the battery the man removed was missing from a shelf that had just been audited for inventory. The stolen battery is valued at $89.99.

Tools, Battery Charger, Police Baton Stolen From Car 

On July 30 at approximately 10:50 a.m., police responded to the 100 block of Cranbourne Drive for a reported theft from a vehicle. Upon arrival, police spoke with the vehicle owner who told police that sometime between Wednesday, July 25, and Friday, July 27, someone had entered their 2008 Toyota 4-Runner which was parked in their driveway. The owner told police that a battery pack/charger valued at approximately $100, a police baton valued at approximately $75 and several miscellaneous tools valued at $500 were removed from the vehicle. The owner was unsure if the vehicle was locked. No damages appeared to be on the vehicle, according to police.

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Employee Steals Gold Pieces From Patients' Mouths For Cash

On July 30, police responded to at 2193 West Chester Pike in Broomall for a reported theft. Upon arrival, police spoke with the doctor and owner of the building, who told police that he discovered a former employee had stolen gold pieces that had been removed from patients’ mouths and taken them to the Garfield Refining Company in Philadelphia, receiving a total of $2,857.31. The doctor identified the woman as a former employee and has since been terminated. According to the doctor, he received a call from Girard Check Exchange in Crum Lynne, PA, informing him that the employee had presented a check in the amount of $1,136.47 from Garfield Refining Company for payment. In addition, the woman had presented several checks in lesser amounts on several occasions for payment from Garfield Refining Company. The woman was questioned by Garfield Refining Company to the amount of the check as to where she obtained the gold in which the doctor was informed that the woman responded the doctor had given her permission to take, according to the report. It was discovered that the woman had made 11 transactions with the Garfield Refining Company for scrap dental gold since November 2011. 

$200 in Change Stolen From Cemetery Worker's Locker

On July 30 at approximately 9 a.m., police responded to the 1600 block of S. Sproul Road at Sts. Peter and Paul cemetery for a reported theft. Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee who told police that someone had entered his work locker between July 25 at 4:30 p.m. and July 30 at 7 a.m. and removed $200 in change. The employee told police that the change was in an old pretzel bin in his locker and the whole bin had been removed. According to the report, the employee told police the lock had been tampered with and was unaware of any other employees that knew his lock combination.

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$60, Camera, Laptop, GPS Stolen From Car 

On July 28 at approximately 2 p.m., police responded to the 200 block of Cranbourne Dr. for a reported theft from a vehicle. The vehicle owner told police that sometime overnight, someone had entered into his vehicle and stolen numerous items. The vehicle was unlocked and parked in the driveway, according to police. Taken from the vehicle: one Bosch chipping gun; one Pass-load framing and finishing nailer; one Milwaukee screw gun; one Casio camera; one Garmin GPS; $60 in cash; one saw; one binoculars; and one Compaq laptop.

13 Ativan Pills Stolen From Nursing Home 

On July 27, police responded to at 146 Marple Road for a reported theft. Upon arrival, the administrator told police that 13 Ativan pills were stolen sometime between July 17 and July 25. The pills were stored in “hospice kits,” according to the report. The hospice kits are used to store all prescription pills for each hospice patient that comes into the facility, according to the report. The kits are kept with each patient for a nurse to dispense the pills. According to the report, a nurse first noticed seven Ativan pills missing from a kit on July 17 and six more Ativan pills were discovered missing on July 25. According to the report, 15 nurses had access to the pills. Police are further investigating this incident. 


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