Two burglaries under investigation

Downingtown police additionally made several arrests in reported thefts

DOWNINGTOWN >> Police are investigating separate burglaries at a business and a residence this month, among reported thefts, some that resulted in arrests.

Creekside Antiques at 35 West Lancaster Avenue was broken into sometime overnight on Sept. 8, police said. Creekside Antiques is a consignment shop and multiple owners have items up for sale within the building. Numerous stolen items include antique jewelry, according to the police report. Police noted that all items missing will not be known until a full inventory is taken. Display cases and cabinets were ransacked and rummaged through. Police said a window was used to gain entry to the building.

Forced entry burglary

Downingtown police sometime between noon and 5:40 p.m. on Sept. 3, a home located on May Apple Drive in East Caln was burglarized. An unknown person(s) broke into the residence and stole numerous items that includes a work computer, financial information, credit cards, checks and several pieces of jewelry, according to the police report.

Retail theft

Downingtown police responded to Wegmans Food Market located at 1056 East Lancaster Avenue in East Caln at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 11 for a retail theft in progress. Police said the suspect, described as a white man wearing a gray “Blue Hens” T-shirt and tan shorts, reportedly fled the parking lot in a silver Honda sedan. Police said the man took a shopping cart of items totaling $509 out of the store allegedly without paying for them. Employees attempted to stop and detain him without success, according to the police report.

Theft

Downingtown police said David R. Preston, 63, of Downingtown, was reported as taking merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods at 1026 East Lancaster Avenue in East Caln. Police said Preston, an employee of Dick’s Sporting Goods, attempted on Sept. 5 to take multiple Under Armour brand shirts and a pair of Beats ear bud headphones for a total of $400. Police said during an interview with the store manager and the officer, Preston reportedly admitted to having previously taken items on multiple occasions since October 2015 amounting to approximately $6,487. Preston was arraigned on retail theft charges.

Downingtown police said Daniel Thomas Babcock, 21, of Downingtown was reported to police for allegedly removing money from the register at the Wawa at 100 Wallace Avenue on Sept. 3. Police said Babcock, an employee of the Wawa, removed $1,384 from the register he worked on from Aug. 22 through 27. Babcock has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, according to the police report.

Downingtown police said Robert Maurice Walker, also known as Wayne Booth, 44, of Philadelphia, attempted to purchase a sewing machine allegedly with a fraudulent check at Jo-Ann Fabrics located at 931 East Lancaster Avenue in East Caln at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 2. Officers responded and said they met Walker at the door as he attempted to exit. Walker is also wanted for other thefts in other Jo-Ann Fabrics and Viking Sewing Gallery stores, according to police.

Walker was charged with theft, bad checks, forgery and related charges, according to the police report. Unable to post his $30,000 bail, he was remanded to Chester County Prison.

Downingtown police said James A. Abraham, 55 and Fay Elizabeth Grover, 52, both of Downingtown, were identified on Sept. 3 as the two that allegedly stole $1,700 of cigarettes from the Turkey Hill at 132 West Lancaster Avenue for the theft reported on May 15. Police said surveillance footage reportedly showed Grover, a former employee, walk in and open a rear door to allow Abraham, also a former employee, to gain entrance. After removing the lock on a cabinet, the two reportedly collected cartons of cigarettes and exited the back door. Police said Abraham and Grover were charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking

and other charges, both were arraigned on Sept. 8 and released on $20,000 unsecured bail each.

Public drunkenness

Downingtown police said John Matthew Poluch, 52, of Honey Brook, was reported as being allegedly intoxicated inside the Wine and Spirits Shop at 861 East Lancaster Avenue in East Caln at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 5 when the business

was closed. Upon arrival, police said they found the front door unlocked and Poluch leaning on the checkout counter, unsteady on his feet. The store should have been secured the previous night at 7:30 p.m., police said, but it was not. Poluch told police he arrived to make a purchase, not realizing the business was not open to the public. Poluch was charged with public drunkenness.