Trio linked to break-ins at businesses facing trial
“All non-life sustaining businesses were closed at the time. Foot traffic in this area is rare even in normal conditions, making the group’s presence additionally suspicious.”
- Limerick Police Officer John Lachman
LIMERICK » Two men and a woman must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court for their alleged roles in break-ins that targeted Limerick businesses closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shawn Daniel Carter, 18, of the 200 block of North Pleasantview Road, Lower Pottsgrove, and Dylan Marcos Pontaski, 19, of the 200 block of Tyler Road, Upper Merion, were ordered to stand trial after preliminary hearings on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, attempted burglary and conspiracy-related charges in connection with alleged incidents that occurred on March 20.
Hollie Marie Kulp, 20, of the 500 block of Broad Street, Milford, Pike County, was ordered to stand trial on charges of attempted burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy-related charges. Charges of burglary were dismissed against Kulp.
District Court Judge Edward Levine presided over the preliminary hearings for the trio, who now face formal arraignment hearings on the charges in county court later this year.
The trio was arrested during the investigation of burglaries at Bravo Pizza and Corropolese Bakery and the attempted burglary of Pretty Nail Salon, all located at a shopping center at the intersection of Ridge Pike and Kugler Road in Limerick.
The investigation began about 10:16 p.m. March 20 when Limerick police responded to Bravo Pizza for a report of a suspicious person after the shop owner received a security alarm alert, according to a criminal complaint filed by Limerick Police Officer John Lachman.
Arriving officers found the front glass door of the restaurant broken and a large rock just inside the foyer. Police checked the restaurant and found no one inside, court papers indicate.
However, video surveillance from the business depicted a male dressed in a hooded camouflage sweatshirt and glasses inside the closed restaurant taking a small amount of coins from a cash register and bottles of soda from a refrigerator before leaving the business and heading in the direction of Corropolese Bakery, according to the arrest affidavit. Investigators determined the bakery was burglarized in the same manner, with the front door smashed with a rock.
At about 11:24 p.m. police received a report of three people, including one matching the description of the suspect observed inside the pizza shop, walking along West Ridge Pike. Businesses were closed at the time due to the statewide emergency declaration during the coronavirus outbreak.
“All non-life sustaining businesses were closed at the time. Foot traffic in this area is rare even in normal conditions, making the group’s presence additionally suspicious,” Lachman alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Police subsequently made contact with Pontaski, Carter and Kulp at a location on West Ridge Pike.
Pontaski, police alleged, was wearing clothing that matched the description of the male observed on video surveillance inside the pizza shop and police found him possessing more than $15 in coins.
A subsequent review of video surveillance footage from Corropolese Bakery depicted the trio inside the business where money was stolen from two donation jars on the counter, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities alleged Pontaski was the person in the group who made entry to the bakery, just as in the pizza shop break-in, according to the criminal complaint.
During the investigation, police discovered another burglary attempt at the Pretty Nail Salon.
“There was a rock like the ones used in the other burglaries sitting right in front of the door. There was also minor damage noted to the glass door. It appeared like someone attempted to smash the glass but could not do so,” Lachman alleged.
At the time of the arrests, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele alleged the defendants “mistakenly believed that it would be easy to get away with burglarizing closed businesses given the coronavirus restrictions.”
“They were wrong,” Steele said. “Let me be clear, law enforcement in Montgomery County is still operating business as usual and we are still arresting people who participate in criminal activities.”