Police investigating thefts from vehicles in West Whiteland

Police are investigating thefts from vehicles where the suspects have targeted pursues in plain sight to steal and use the identification and checks to commit frauds.

The West Whiteland Township Police Department is investigating three thefts from motor vehicles that occurred on Boot Road Park on Tuesday. Police said on Friday that all three incidents involved a car window being broken out and a purse removed from the vehicle. A witness observed a black Audi SUV fleeing the area. Police said it was discovered that the license plate for the vehicle had been stolen from another vehicle prior to the thefts.

An investigation determined that a checkbook was stolen from one of the purses and an unknown person reportedly passed one of the checks at a bank in Virginia.

Police said these incidents are related to past incidents involving a loosely organized group commonly referred to as The Felony Lane Gang. The group is known to target vehicles parked at parks, schools and daycare centers. The suspects tend to break into vehicles specifically to obtain a woman’s purse. The suspects then use the stolen identification cards and checks to commit bank fraud. The group is known to travel across the country to commit these crimes.

The West Whiteland Township Police Department reminded the public to secure their valuables in the trunks of their vehicles and to report suspicious activity.

THROWING PUMPKIN » Someone threw a pumpkin out of a white sedan at a 21-yearold male as the male was driving past in his vehicle on Sept. 16 at 1:20 a.m. on Oxford Road in New London Township. The victim’s cars was damaged, police said. THEFT » Someone took a purse and money from a vehicle in the 200 block of Sheffield Lane in East Nottingham Township on Sept. 17 in the late afternoon, police said. ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL » Courtney McLaughlin, 21, of Cochranville fell asleep at the wheel on Street Road in East Marlborough township on Sept. 16 at 6:48 a.m. She drifted out of the driving lane into a telephone pole and then into an embankment. She was not injured, police said. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF » Somebody broke windows in a shed and then tipped over a porta potty at Avon Grove High School in London Grove Township on Sept.. 15, 16 or 17, police said.

DUI » A 57-year-old male from Oxford was charged with DUI after he hit a utility pole on Hickory Hill Road in East Nottingham Township on Sept. 16 at 3:48 p.m., police said.

CRASH » A 17-year-old driver with three passengers was traveling northbound on Hickory Hill road in East Nottingham Township on Sept. 18 at 7:11 p.m. She attempted to turn left onto Little Elk Creek Road and was hit by an oncoming car. Several of the occupants were taken to hospitals, police said.

BURGLARY » Someone broke into a vacant home in the 300 block of Red Pump road in West Nottingham Township overnight on Sept. 15 and stole tools, police said.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF » Someone allegedly dinged a truck in the 700 block of Street Road in Londonderry Township on Sept. 6 late at night, police said.

HARASSMENT » Chrissie Marie Shaw, 49, of Oxford went to a home in the 200 block of Cream Road in Lower Oxford on Aug. 12 at 11:56 a.m. looking for money. She also punched the occupant, and the occupant broke a nail. The assailant had a scratch on her face, police said.

ROUTE 10 CRASH » Dawn Borgen, 47, of Oxford was turning from Route 1 onto Route 10 in Lower Oxford Township on Sept. 16 at 9:41 a.m. She pulled out into traffic without clearance and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. She suffered a possible injury, police said.

RETAIL THEFT » Two men took a Dyson vacuum cleaner from Lowes on Hepburn road in London Grove Township on July 4 at 8:31 a.m. When they were confronted, they fled with the item, police said.

IPAD STOLEN » Someone stole an iPAD from a back

pack in the 200 block of Highland Road in West Fallowfield Township on Sept. 15 during the afternoon hours, police said.

DUI CRASH » Two vehicles crashed with no injuries on Route 1 at East Christine Road in West Nottingham Township on Sept. 14 at 5:48 p.m. Drugs were a factor in the crash, police said.

IDENTITY THEFT » Someone used the identity of as 61-year-old woman from London Grove Township to open a fraudulent Walmart Credit Card account in the 300 block of Chatham Road in London Grove Township on Aug. 28, police said.

BURGLARY » Someone entered a locked shed at the Oxford Farmers’ Market on Limestone Road in Lower Oxford between Sept. 10 and 14 and too $700 worth of gardening equipment, police said.

DUI » Julie Anna Desposito, 25, of Avondale hit a utility pole on Baltimore Pike in Pennsbury Township on Aug. 31 at 8:23 p.m. while she was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, police said.

DUI » Jarvis Orlando DeShields, 52, of Wilmington left the highway and overturned on Doe Run road in West Marlborough Township on July 21 at 6:23 p.m. He was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time, police said.

SWIPED THE SIDE » One car swiped another while making a turn from State Road to Rose Hill Road in London Grove Township on Sept. 15 at 7:27 a.m., police said.

ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD » On Sept. 19 someone made an unauthorized charge on the bank account of a female from Landenberg, police said.

DUI » West Joseph Prein of Kennett Square was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Route 926 at Willowdale Lane in East Marlborough Township on Sept. 21 at 11:23 p.m., police said. PARKED CAR STRUCK » Overnight on Aug. 26 someone struck at parked car on the 300 block of Sherer Drive in New London Township, police said.

THEFT » Someone stole $20,000 worth of uncashed checks from an 85-year-old male from Avondale between Aug. 29 and Sept. 19, police said.

HARASSMENT » Arnold Celvenstine, 29, of Gap engaged in a verbal dispute that became physical in the 300 block of Autumn Hill Drive in East Nottingham Township on Sept. 3 at 7:49 p.m. A non-traffic citation was issued, police said.

BB GUN CHARGES » Joshua P. Keen, age 19 and John Snyder, age 18, both of Kennett Square were arrested and charged with Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Criminal Mischief, Sale and Use of Air Rifles, Criminal Conspiracy, and Disorderly Conduct, in connection with the firing of a BB gun through the window of an occupied residence. The incident occurred on Sept. 11 at 9:11 p.m., in the 100 block of New Garden Road, in New Garden Township. The residents contacted police after a BB gun was fired through the large window that they were sitting approximately six feet from, police said.