$13,000 bitcoin scam, many thefts from vehicles

Haverford Police on patrol.

February 8

Commercial Burglary: A burglar forced open the front door of a business in the 2300 block of Haverford Road and stole $140 from the cash register.

Retail theft: A shoplifter took $842 in cigarettes at the Acme in the 1300 block of West Chester Pike.

February 9

Retail theft: Shoplifters took $108 worth of diapers at the Acme in the 1300 block of West Chester Pike.

Flag Stolen: Resident of the first block of East Wilmot Avenue reported his Stars and Stripes stolen.

February 10

Shoplifting: Two men stole $2,490 in merchandise from the Kohl’s in the 200 block of West Chester Pike.

Theft: A backpack containing a Chromebook, school supplies and keys were stolen at the Wawa in the 1000 block of Darby Road

Fraud: A check was altered after it was mailed from the first block of Brookline Boulevard. The bank contacted the victim when someone tried to cash it.

Fraud: A resident in the 200 block of East Marthart Avenue received an alert that her IP address had been compromised. The caller stated that $14,000 was added to her bank account and advised her to withdraw the money and send it through a bitcoin machine. Once the transfer was complete, the victim received another call saying it was a scam.

February 11

Burglary of homes: A burglar gained entry through an unlocked back door in the 500 block of Kathmere Road. A purse with credit cards was stolen. Unauthorized purchases were made with one of the credit cards. The police reported on Thursday that a suspect was arrested for this and other thefts in the area. They traced the stolen credit card to a convenience store, and later a Mini Market in Kensington.

Theft: Unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Brookline Boulevard and a wallet was stolen.

Theft: The vehicle was entered in the 500 block of Brookline Boulevard and a charging cable and $20 were stolen.

Entered vehicle: An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 500 block of Kathmere Road and nothing was missing.

Retail theft arrest: A 40-year-old homeless man was arrested for retail theft, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia at the Lowe’s in the 100 block of West Township Line Road.

February 12

Vandalism: Residents in the 1200 block of Leedom Road reported someone smeared makeup and wrote obscenities on their front door.

Entered vehicle: An unlocked vehicle was driven into the 300 block of Highland Lane and nothing was missing.

Arrests: At East Township Line Road and Grove Place, a 44-year-old homeless man and a 41-year-old Norristown man were charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

February 13

Retail theft arrest: A Philadelphia man, 33, was charged with retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia at the 7-11 store in the 2600 block of Haverford Road.

Theft: At Bryn Mawr Extended Care in the 900 block of Railroad Avenue, a resident reported $300 missing from her room.

February 14

Thefts: In the 700 block of Millbrook Lane, two unlocked vehicles were entered and various tools and approximately $1,000 in medical equipment were stolen.

Theft: A vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Ellis Road and loose change was stolen.

Forgery: A resident in the 200 block of Morlyn Avenue reported that a postal check was stolen, altered and cashed.

Citations issued for the week: 41 moving; 57 warnings; 1 non-traffic ticket; and 134 parking tickets.