Police Blotter: Burglary at Swim Club, Man Steals 15 Prilosec Packets, and More

Cash Register and iPhone Player Stolen From Rose Tree Swim Club After Hours

On Aug. 9 around 10:25 p.m., responded to on 423 Candlewood Road for a reported burglary with approximately $300 worth of cash and items stolen from the property. The theft was discovered by a member of the swim club who had discovered the side door of the snack bar had been broken into with the door left wide open. According to the incident report, as he went further into the store, the man noticed the cash register and an iPhone player were missing. According to police, it appeared that the actors had broken into one of the front counter doors and one of the two burglars involved–observed on the swim club’s surveillance camera–had broken open the door separating the office side and the snack bar side of the building. According to police, after the cash register and iPhone player were carried out through the side door, the burglars–identified as two white, young males wearing shorts and no hats–had left. Upon further investigation from the video, police said it appeared that after some contemplation, the two actors grabbed and pulled at the counter cover, which ended up breaking, while one of the actors grabbed a picnic bench, hoisted himself into the counter area, then unlocked the door for the other actor. Police are further investigating this incident.

Halfway House Escapee Takes 15 Packets of Prilosec From Giant, Pedals Away on Bike

On Aug. 9 at 12:10 p.m., police observed a man on a bicycle going the wrong way in the left lane of Route 3/West Chester Pike. After following the man on the bike, police observed the man stop by the and then the  on Springfield Road. When police pulled up to the man and asked for identification, the man sped off on his bicycle through the intersection of Springfield Road and Latches Lane and into the parking lot of . The man proceeded through the parking lot, west onto Route 3 in the eastbound lanes, across Route 3 onto South Ann Road, and then into the parking lot. Police then proceeded to pursue the man on foot and yelled for him to stop. When police finally apprehended him, the man started to pull away resisting and yelled out that he had needles on him. Police were able to pull a hypodermic needle out of his pant’s pocket and inside his backpack was a grocery bag containing 15 packs of unopened Prilosec packets. The needles were taken back to the Giant, where it was confirmed that they were stolen. The total valued amount was $223.85. Upon further investigation, police were able to recover five ripped, waxed bags, containing a white, powdery residue, and a second hypodermic needle on him. The man gave police a false name of Roger Pulinski and a fake license and insurance card with that name on it. Police were able to identify the man as Charles Halfpenny, who is wanted for escaping from a halfway house. Halfpenny has an escape warrant from Pennsylvania State Police parole on full extradition. He has three prior convictions for retail theft on his record. He was kept overnight and arraigned at Marple police headquarters.

Man Steals Box Full of Copper Tubing

On Aug. 8 just before 8 p.m., police responded to the 1100 block of Paxon Hollow Road for an attempted forced burglary. According to the resident’s son of the home, he observed a man wearing a white tank top with tattoos exiting the residence carrying pieces of copper and fled the area in a blue Lincoln Towne car. The car was last seen on Paxon Hollow Road heading towards Upper Providence. Upper Providence police and Media police were contacted to check the surrounding area. Police were able to identify the driver as Joseph Downey, Jr., of Media. Upper Providence police reported that around 8:08 p.m., the vehicle was in the 200 block of Quiet Hollow Road and that Downey Jr. was in custody. The father of Downey Jr. was at his home and opened the car trunk to discover a brown cardboard box containing pieces of copper tubing. was called to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was rendered as not driveable as the wheel was damaged from underneath the vehicle. Downey Jr. was arrested.

Panera Bread Employee Digs Through Fellow Employee's Purse, Takes Credit Card

On Aug. 8 at approximately 4:40 p.m., police were informed from an employee at in Broomall that on Saturday, July 30, she was working and had left her purse in the employee break room. During this time, uknown to her, someone had entered her wallet and her Chase Mastercard was stolen, according to the incident report. She was informed by Chase about unusual activity on her card and she learned that the card had been used at least four times since July 30 at the in Broomall, a 7-11 in Havertown and a Sunoco A-Plus station. According to police, the employee checked the store’s surveillance camera and observed a fellow employee had gone through her purse in the break room and had taken her credit card from her wallet. The employee told police she heard that the fellow employee had recently quit. Police are further investigating this incident.

A/C Unit Forced Open at Worrall Elementary School

On Aug. 8 at approximately 8:25 a.m., police responded to on 2979 Pennview Avenue for a reported damage. According to the incident report, staff at Worrall found a second floor window with an air conditioning unit forced open. The second floor unit appeared to be deliberately pushed in an attempt to gain entry, yet there was no evidence to believe entry was gained and nothing was taken, according to police. Police said the A/C unit was pushed inward and faces Lovell Avenue. Police are further investigating this incident. 

Exhaust Fans and Fiberglass Doors Taken From O'Hara

On Aug. 9 around 2:20 p.m., police responded to Cardinal O’Hara High School on 1701 South Sproul Road in Springfield for a reported theft. Upon arrival, police spoke with a contractor currently doing work at the school, who told police that items were stolen from the rear parking lot by the kitchen doors. The items taken were two restaurant-type exhaust fans with aluminum hoods. These were used items to be re-installed, he told police. They had been apparently taken some time between Sunday, Aug. 7, and Monday, Aug. 8.  The other items stolen were four fiberglass doors that had new hardware installed. Their value is approximately $600 each while the used fans are estimated at $50 each. The fiberglass doors were discovered missing on Thusday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5. Police are further investigating this incident.

Vehicle Tag Stolen From Resident's Driveway

On Aug. 11, police received a call around 3:10 p.m. from a resident in the 100 block of Raccoon Place in Media for a reported theft. The resident stated that his vehicle tag was removed from his vehicle in the last 48 hours while the vehicle was parked in his driveway. He told police he was sure it was there on Aug. 8 when he had his car serviced.

Bike Stolen From Russell Elementary School

On Aug. 17 at 2:14 p.m., a woman came into Marple police station to report her son’s bike was stolen/missing. Her 14-year-old son had accidentally left it at at 2201 South Sproul Road on Saturday around 6 p.m. The woman said she noticed he had walked home without his BMX Haro bike. The bike was yellow with all black tires and rims. According to police, they have no indication of who may have taken the bike but believe bike thefts have been very frequent this year. Police are further investigating this incident.

Two Separate Retail Thefts at T.J. Maxx 

On Aug. 17 at 3:13 p.m., Marple police responded to the in the Lawrence Park Shopping Center for a reported theft. The store officer observed a woman removing hangars from two pairs of ladies active underwear. The woman continued to remove the price tickets from the items and then placed both items inside her purse to further conceal the items, according to police. The woman then walked out of the store and past all points of sale. She was stopped by the store officer who arrested her for retail theft with a value of $32.98. She was transported back to Marple police station, where she was fingerprinted and processed. She had only one prior arrest with a conviction for disorderly conduct. She had no prior retail thefts. 

On Aug. 15, police responded to T.J. Maxx for another reported theft. The woman was in custody for a $39.99 reported theft. The woman was arrested, cited and released.