Crooks allegedly foiled by efforts to gain entry with power tools
Detectives believe this alleged thief specializes in gaining access to Wawa stores with power tools.
- If police are correct, some tenacious would-be thieves persevered in their attempts to gain entry into a Wawa store in East Goshen because they had been successful in Lower Merion Township.
Westtown-East Goshen Regional police said officers responded at 4:56 a.m. this morning to the Wawa at 1594 Paoli Pike for the report of an attempted burglary – the second attempt in less than two months. An employee reporting to work at the store, which closes from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, observed several crates and soda carriers out of place on the building’s exterior, police said.
Upon further examination, the worker located three places on the outside wall where someone tried to drill through the concrete block, police said. Surveillance video showed that two individuals arrived about 12:30 a.m. with electric tools, but for more than an hour, kept finding barriers inside the store that prevented entry, police said.
Police said the first suspect appeared to be a Hispanic or light-skinned black male in his 20s wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, white sneakers and gloves. The second suspect wore a dark hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans and used a cellphone while acting as a lookout, police said.
On June 12, police said someone climbed onto the building and cut a section of the rear roof, striking ductwork for the heating system that blocked access.
Police said detectives are working with the Lower Merion Police Department, which investigated a similar crime on July 31 at the Wawa at Conshohocken State and Rock Hill Roads. In that case, an individual climbed through a hole cut into the block wall and was working to break into the office safe when he was interrupted by an employee arriving for work at 4:15 a.m.
Detectives believe the crimes are connected, and they are urging anyone with information to call the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department at 610-692-5100.
In other burglary news, state police from the Avondale barracks said a break-in occurred yesterday between 4 and 5 a.m. at the Kennett Square Golf and Country Club on Locust Lane in East Marlborough Township. Access was gained by breaking a window and door, police said, adding that cash, beer and candy were stolen.
Another burglary occurred Aug. 6 sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the 2200 block of Hickory Hill Road in Pennsbury Township. Jewelry was stolen, police said.
Police said an attempted burglary occurred Aug. 3 at 4:36 p.m. in the 300 block of Corrine Drive in Pocopson Township. An unknown actor gained entry into the home through a screened porch, went to open the back door and saw the homeowner in the kitchen as dogs started barking. Police said the suspect fled.
