Multiple diversion-style burglaries in Northeast Philadelphia under investigation, police say
Philadelphia police are investigating a series of diversion-style burglaries by two suspects that happened over the past month in Northeast Philly, and investigators believe they could be connected.
According to police, the four burglaries happened in the 2nd, 7th and 8th Police Districts, which are all located in different Northeast Philly neighborhoods. Based on the methods used by the suspects, police believe the crimes are connected. The suspects, who have been described similarly by the victims to police, have targeted elderly victims, according to authorities.
Police said the first burglary happened on March 28 just before 5 p.m. on the 11000 block of Knights Road. An 80-year-old woman told police that a man knocked on her door and claimed he was replacing a neighbor's fence and that he needed to remove trees from her yard.
While the man distracted the 80-year-old outside, police said a second suspect entered the home and stole about $25,000 in U.S. currency and $200,000 worth of jewelry from a bedroom. The two suspects left the home in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck, according to police.
The suspect who distracted the 80-year-old introduced himself as "Joey." Police said he was described as a White or Latino man, roughly 50 to 60 years old and wearing a white medical mask with gray clothing. The second suspect in this incident was a White man who was roughly 40 years old. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, according to police.
About two weeks later, police said, a second burglary happened on April 10 on the 7200 block of Bradford Street. At about 11 a.m., police said a 92-year-old man allowed a man who claimed there was an issue with the neighborhood's electrical system to enter the home. Police said the suspect told the 92-year-old he needed to examine his circuit box.
Police said that while the 92-year-old and man were in the basement, a second suspect entered the home and stole $3,500 in cash from a bedroom drawer. A neighbor's doorbell camera captured the suspects fleeing the scene on foot, according to police. One suspect was described as a White or Latino man who was about 50 years old and roughly 5 feet, 7 inches tall. The second suspect was wearing a dark jacket, light pants, a baseball hat and a face mask, police said.
The third burglary happened on April 14 on the 3900 block of Fairdale Avenue. At about 4:30 p.m., police said a 79-year-old man was approached by a man claiming to be checking on fence work planned by a neighbor.
The 79-year-old then walked into the backyard with the man. While the two were outside, a second suspect entered the home and stole a Citizen Watch valued at $400 from a bedroom. The first suspect was described as a roughly 50-year-old Hispanic man who was about 5 foot, 8 inches tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing glasses, a dark jacket and pants.
The most recent burglary happened on Tuesday in the 1900 block of Fulmer Street in the city's Bustleton neighborhood.
According to police, a man knocked on the victim's door around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, claiming to be from an electric company. The man allegedly said he was working in the area and had to inspect the victim's house to ensure their electricity was functioning properly.
Police said the victim allowed the man inside and the two went to the home's basement, where the electrical box is located. The two were in the basement for about 30 minutes before the man abruptly left the house, according to police. The man was allegedly speaking Spanish on his phone throughout the visit, and the front door was unlocked, police said.
The complainant told police that about an hour later, he found that his bedroom dressers had been rummaged through.
The man is accused of stealing approximately $5,000 in U.S. currency and 9,000 Chinese Yuan, which converts to more than $1,200 in U.S. dollars, as well as a locked safe containing jewelry. The suspect was described as a Hispanic man, police said.
Philadelphia police are urging all residents in the area to be on high alert and be mindful about locking the doors of their home.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to contact Northeast Detectives at (215) 686-3153 or dial 911
