Borough Blue

Woman arrested in West Reading fight waives preliminary hearing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:58:00 +0000

A 21-year-old Wernersville woman who was arrested on New Year's Day following a fight in the 400 block of Penn Avenue in West Reading waived her preliminary hearing Jan. 23. She was charged with failing to disperse and disorderly conduct. She faces a formal arraignment next. Meanwhile, she remains in jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

The man charged in the fight, a 25-year-old Temple resident, has a hearing set for February. He was released Jan. 9 after posting $5,000 bail.

Thief of the week: Jan. 22-27

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:31:00 +0000

This week's TOTW has yet to be charged, but the suspect made a big haul during the holiday season.

THEFT: About $30,000 in cash and merchandise
WHEN TAKEN: During November and December
WHERE TAKEN: A store in the Berkshire Mall, in the 1600 block of State Hill Road in Wyomissing
HOW: Taking over a franchise for two months, with access to the store's inventory and books
SUSPECT: A woman whom the store's owner mistakenly trusted
PUNISHMENT: None yet. No charges have been filed. The store's owner called police Jan. 19.
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES: Theft charges for the suspect; a general mistrust of humanity.

Agree? Disagree? Have a better crime in mind? Leave a comment or shoot an email to boroughblue@boroughblue.com.

Stereo test gets too loud for neighbors

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:54:00 +0000

West Reading residents called police about 5:10 p.m. Jan. 22 in the 100 block of South Sixth Avenue after hearing a car stereo that was way too loud. Officers told the man who owned the car that people were complaining. He explained that the stereo was new, and he was just testing it. Police were not sympathetic; they told him to turn the music down.

Vandal smashes windshield in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:54:00 +0000

A man called Wyomissing police about 6 p.m. Jan. 20 after discovering someone kicked in the windshield of his car parked in the 1400 block of Garfield Avenue. How do police know the vandal used his or her foot? The vandal left footprints and small dents in the hood of the vehicle. Police tried to lift the shoe impressions on the hood, "without much success," according to the police report.

Thief steals muffler from car parked in mall lot in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:51:00 +0000

A woman returned to her car about 7 p.m. Jan. 17 in the parking lot of the Berkshire Mall, in the 1600 block of State Hill Road in Wyomissing, to discover it was now missing a muffler. Thieves sawed the muffler from her car sometime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. that day. Two days later, she called borough police.

Snowfall leads to noise complaints in West Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Most West Reading residents awoke the morning of Saturday, Jan. 21 to the idyllic serenity of four inches of fresh-fallen snow. The serenity didn't last the whole day, prompting a couple of noise complaints to police.

At 2:17 a.m., a resident called police to complain about a vehicle revving its engine and spinning its tires in the 700 block of Reading Avenue. The driver managed to liberate the car, because by the time police arrived a few minutes later, the vehicle was gone.
A man waited until about 10 p.m. to clear his sidewalk in the 200 block of Silk Way with a snowblower. He had finished by the time police arrived.

Wyomissing police investigate $30,000 theft from store

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:31:00 +0000

The biggest news in the Borough Blue coverage area is, of course, a fatal shooting in Cumru Township near the Bertolet Fishing Dock in West Reading.

The Reading Eagle has full coverage of that developing story. Meanwhile, let's get back to much less significant misdeeds, like this business owner who discovered he'd been ripped off:

The owner of a business in the Berkshire Mall left his store in the hands of another franchiser/owner for November and December. During those two months she took all of the inventory, withdrew cash from the business' bank account and kept all the profits. The trusting owner estimates he lost about $30,000. He called Wyomissing police Jan. 19 after discovering the loss.

Tip: Real callers from Publishers Clearing House probably don't make threats

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

A Wyomissing man got a call about 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at his home in the 900 block of Woodland Road from a man claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. The caller lost all credibility when he threatened to shoot the man. The resident called police, who traced the caller's location to Jamaica.

Denver couple charged in late December theft at Berkshire Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Two people stole several items about 1:03 p.m. Dec. 29 from stores in the Berkshire Mall, in the 1600 block of State Hill Road in Wyomissing, and fled in a maroon vehicle. Borough police tracked them down and on Jan. 23, they charged the suspects, a 38-year-old man and a woman, both from Denver, Pa., with retail theft, receiving stolen property and two counts each of conspiracy. Both face an arraignment at the end of February.

Friends get each other in trouble with West Reading police

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

A man called West Reading police after an argument he had about 5 p.m. Jan. 17 in the 100 block of Tulpehocken Avenue, over his friend's driving habits. He wanted his friend cited for reckless driving. The driver, meanwhile, told officers that his friend punched him. Police continue to investigate.

Garages broken into in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Sometime between the evening of Jan. 17 and the morning of Jan. 18, someone walked into an open garage in the 1300 block of Reading Boulevard. The thief or thieves took several items from the garage, a refrigerator and one of the vehicles parked inside. A purse containing an iPhone, several credit cards, a passport and $40 cash was stolen.

Two blocks away, in the 1100 block of Reading Boulevard, a resident discovered the same theft happened in her unlocked garage, also between the night of Jan. 17 and the morning of Jan. 18. This time the thieves took cash, a GPS device and two mah jongg sets.

Shoplifters keep police busy at Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Wyomissing police responded to three calls of shoplifting within about two hours in the evening of Jan. 16 at the Berkshire Mall, in the 1600 block of State Hill Road in the borough.

About 7:38 p.m., a boy stole $8 worth of earrings at a store in the mall, hiding the jewelry in his boots. He became hostile to police, who detained him until his mother could come pick the boy up. Police recovered the earrings. Store employees decided not to press charges, opting instead to handle it privately.
A short time, later, about 8 p.m., mall security had two people in custody for shoplifting from several stores. One was a girl, who also had drug paraphernalia on her, and the other a woman. Police cited the woman for retail theft. The girl faces charges of retail theft and possessing drug paraphernalia.
About 9:03 p.m. a fourth suspect was caught at a store in the mall, stealing $40 in merchandise. Employees said the store will handle it privately.

Thief of the week, Jan. 15-21

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:27:00 +0000

I had a tough time selecting this week's thief of the week -- until Thursday, that is, when men behaving badly became the theme of the day. Then it was easy pickings. So here is the latest Thief of the Week.

THEFT: The labors of a bar staff
WHEN TAKEN: Evening of Jan. 10
WHERE TAKEN: A restaurant in the 900 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing
HOW: Walking out of the restaurant without paying
SUSPECT: A married couple
PUNISHMENT: A self-imposed citation for the husband, and his wife
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES: Getting blackballed from a restaurant, paying more (hopefully) in court fees than any bar bill might have been.

Agree? Disagree? Have a better crime in mind? Leave a comment or shoot an email to boroughblue@boroughblue.com.

Robber holds up restaurant in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:01:00 +0000

A night manager locked herself in the restaurant she operated about 9:47 p.m. Jan. 15 in the 1700 block of State Hill Road in Wyomissing after a man wielding a knife robbed the place. She alerted the alarm company, which then called borough police. Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood for the man, who, according to police, "was last seen running toward the tree line along Woodland Road."

Woman tries to visit dog, gets turned away by police

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:52:00 +0000

West Reading police were called to a home about 4:18 p.m. Jan. 16 in the 700 block of Wayne Avenue in the borough after a woman came to the home of her ex-husband to visit the dog. She admitted to police she didn't live there anymore. Officers told her to leave and gave her a warning for disorderly conduct.

Cab driver charged in New Year's Day hit-and-run in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0000

A taxi caused a three-vehicle crash about 4:50 p.m. Jan. 1 at the intersection of State Hill Road and an on-ramp to the Warren Street Bypass in Wyomissing. The taxi drove away, but police tracked down the driver. On Jan. 17, Wyomissing police charged the suspected driver, a 42-year-old Pottsville man, with causing an accident, following too closely, failing to stop and give aid, and failing to notify police of an accident. An arraignment is scheduled in February.

Driver charged in hit-and-run in West Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

A vehicle struck a pedestrian about 7:36 p.m. Jan. 13 at Reading and North Fourth avenues in West Reading. Rather than stop and help the victim, the driver took off. Police later found him in Reading. The person struck was taken to Reading Hospital. Borough police charged the suspect, an 18-year-old man, with causing an accident involving injury, careless driving and failing to stop and give aid. He remains free pending a preliminary hearing scheduled next month.

Man cited for skipping out on restaurant check

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:04:00 +0000

A couple had a few drinks in the evening of Jan. 10 at a restaurant in the 900 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. They tried to leave without paying, and they succeeded -- except an employee of the restaurant got their license plate number. Wyomissing police contacted the husband about 10:03 that night. Officers told him he had a choice: pay the bar tab or receive a citation for theft of services.

He chose the citation for theft of services. Police obliged him, and also cited his wife.

Husband attacks wife, takes her mother's car

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

A woman called Wyomissing police after she had to jump out of a vehicle about 4:10 a.m. Jan. 14 at Penn and Clayton avenues in Wyomissing. She left the vehicle because her husband, who was driving, threatened and assaulted her. He drove away and refused to return the vehicle, which was owned by the woman's mother.

Police arrested the suspect, a 44-year-old West Lawn man, and charged him with simple assault, making terroristic threats, harassment and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Vehicles damaged in West Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Vandals have damaged at least seven vehicles in West Reading between Jan. 7 and Jan. 16, including three on Jan. 16 within a few blocks of one another:

9:54 p.m. Jan. 7: A rear window of a vehicle parked in the 200 block of Spruce Street was smashed.
6:29 p.m. Jan. 9: Unspecified criminal mischief was done to a vehicle in the 300 block of South Second Avenue.
8 a.m., Jan. 13: A car was vandalized while it was parked in the 300 block of Tulpehocken Avenue.
11:38 a.m. Jan. 15: A vehicle was vandalized in the 400 block of Sunset Road.
8:42 a.m. Jan. 16: A vehicle was damaged in the 600 block of Franklin Street.
9:32 a.m. Jan. 16: Someone reported criminal mischief done to a vehicle parked on Franklin Street.
2:13 p.m. Jan. 16: a vehicle was vandalized while parked overnight in the 200 block of Kent Way.

West Reading puts police blotter online

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +0000

You want to know how I get material for this blog? From the police departments at West Reading and Wyomissing. Now you can find out about crime in West Reading straight from the police themselves. As of Tuesday they've put their daily activity report online.

You can read it here. Wyomissing has put their reports online for several years. You can find those here.

Of course, I hope you will continue (or start, if the case may be) visiting Borough Blue regularly, where you can always find the news of the criminal, the not-quite-criminal and the just plain weird in West Reading and Wyomissing.

Three face drug charges after traffic stop in West Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

A group of men chose the middle of the day, and the middle of the street, to make a drug deal. West Reading police officers were watching about 3:34 p.m. Jan. 6 as the four men, in a vehicle stopped at Franklin Street and South Fifth Avenue in the borough, handed items off to one another. One of the men got out of the car, and the driver drove away, speeding and turning without signaling. Police stopped the car and smelled marijuana immediately. They found pot in the car and on one of the suspects.

All three men were charged. The suspected driver, a 20-year-old Reading man, was charged with pot possession, conspiracy to possess pot, failure to use a turn signal and speeding. A second suspect, a 19-year-old Reading man, was also charged with marijuana possession and conspiracy. The third suspect, a 21-year-old Wyomissing man, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. The three were jailed in lieu of $5,000 each.

Driver runs red light, gets arrested on drunken-driving charge

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

Wyomissing police stopped a vehicle about 2:25 a.m. Jan. 10 after it had gone through a red light at Penn Avenue and Park Road in the borough. The driver appeared drunk, and a breath test confirmed it: The suspect's blood-alcohol content was 0.14, nearly double the state's legal threshold for drunken driving of 0.08. Police took the driver to St. Joseph Medical Center for a blood test.

Two vehicles broken into on Park Road in Wyomissing

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:19:00 +0000

A woman left her car alone for less than an hour -- between 12:45 and 1:27 p.m. Jan. 10 -- when someone smashed the passenger-side window of the vehicle while it was parked in the 200 block of North Park Road. The thief or thieves took an orange, polka-dotted lunch container from the seat. Police believe the suspects drove away in a red Dodge Neon sedan with a spoiler, based on video surveillance footage from a nearby business.

A few hours later, another car was broken into in the 400 block of North Park Road. A man told police that between 5:40 and 6 p.m., someone smashed the passenger-side window and took a bag containing his wallet, credit cards, driver's license and $10 in cash.

West Reading man charged with shoplifting from store in Berkshire Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Richter) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:44:00 +0000

A man took two items from their display shelves at a store about 3:13 p.m. Jan. 3 in the Berkshire Mall, in the 1600 block of State Hill Road in Wyomissing, and took them to the cashier – to return. The cashier gave the man a gift card for the $59.07 value of the items. Police officers who watched the transaction then took the man into custody. The suspect, a 46-year-old West Reading man, also had an outstanding warrant. Police turned the man over to Berks County sheriff's deputies. He was charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property.