Police Chief: Thefts Continue To Plague Marple

BROOMALL–Though crime figures are "about on par," there are still a few things that are a "little out of line" said Chief Tom Murray at a Board of Commissioners meeting May 7.

Specifically, Murray stated that thefts in the township continue to "plague us." According to Murray, the Marple Police Department is currently working with Pennsylvania State Police for the thefts that are occurring at the parking lot.

"They have been successful in getting warrants and recovering some property from numerous several thefts, but we're working with them on those and an arrest is imminent in those particular thefts," updated Murray to the board.

In addition, Murray said the police department is also collaborating with the Upper Providence Police Department on more several thefts from vehicles that occurred right along the township border to Upper Providence.

According to Murray, Upper Providence Township also had thefts from vehicles in the same vicinity, along the Rt. 252 corridor, on the same night Marple Township had thefts from vehicles around that area.

"So, we're working closely with Upper Providence. They were fortunate and got a phone call, and were able to catch two individuals in the commission of the thefts in their town," said Murray.

Although vandalism is down in the township this year, vandalism is another crime that continues throughout the township and is "somewhat problematic," according to Murary.

However DUI arrests are up for this year, said Murray. So far, there have been 20 DUI arrests since January in comparison to a total of 25-30 DUI arrests for all of of last year.

The police department is also implementing the Lojack Safety Net program to the force, which is a "service designed to help public safety agencies bring loved ones–who wander–home safely."

According to the website, "The service utilizes proven Radio Frequency technology and works directly with law enforcement and other public safety agencies to help rescue individuals with autism, Alzheimer's, dementia and other similar cognitive conditions who have wandered and become lost."

Murray said Officer Ray Stiles has been trained with the technology program and will begin training the other officer in-house. Once all the officers have been trained, Lojack then be able to be a sponsoring agency to the police department and advertise in the township to those who are interested in receiving a Lojack emitter bracelet.