Schwenksville house cleaner admits to jewelry thefts

NORRISTOWN >> A Schwenksville man who worked as an assistant for a cleaning service has admitted to literally cleaning house, stealing jewelry and family heirlooms from one Lower Salford client.

Nicholas Richard Mongan Sr., 30, of the 100 block of Salem Road, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to felony charges of theft by unlawful taking in connection with thefts that occurred at an Oak Ridge Lane residence in Lower Salford between December 2014 and February 2015.

Judge Garrett D. Page deferred sentencing until Feb. 13 so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Mongan. Mongan, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces a possible maximum sentence of 3½ to seven years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for less jail time.

The judge indicated he will also hold a restitution hearing at time of sentencing.

An investigation of Mongan began in February 2015, when the Lower Salford homeowners went to township police to report the theft of jewelry from their home. The victims reported jewelry, including an antique diamond ring valued at $2,800 and an engagement ring valued at $2,650, as well as assorted coins went missing from the home, according to the criminal complaint filed by Lower Salford Police Officer Cory Moyer.

“(The victims) stated they suspect someone from their cleaning service was responsible for the theft,” Moyer alleged.

The investigation revealed Mongan, the boyfriend of one of two women who regularly cleaned the house, had assisted with the cleaning.

With the approval of the homeowners, police installed surveillance cameras inside the home in anticipation of the next visit by the cleaning service, scheduled for March 2, 2015, according to the arrest affidavit.

Lower Salford police subsequently watched live footage of Mongan on March 2 as he entered one of the bedrooms, opened a desk drawer where some of the previously stolen jewelry had once been located, picked up an envelope containing $121 that one of the homeowners had intentionally left there, took out the cash and counted it, then pocketed some of the money, police alleged in court documents.

Investigators watching the footage notified another officer who was stationed outside the house in an unmarked police vehicle and when Mongan exited the garage of the home and got into a Toyota Camry that the cleaners had arrived in, police made contact with Mongan.

Other Lower Salford officers went to the residence and inspected the envelope in the desk drawer and found that $45 was missing, according to the criminal complaint. When confronted by police Mongan “admitted he made a mis- take and did take about $25 from the envelope,” according to the arrest affidavit.

Police also alleged that Mongan initially falsely identified himself, giving police the name and information belonging to a relative.

Mongan eventually confessed to stealing the money from the envelope, and said he had taken a ring, which was determined to be the victim’s grandmother’s wedding band, from the same drawer, as well as money from a coin jug, approximately two months earlier, according to court papers. Mongan also told police he sold the ring at a pawn shop the same day he stole it. At that time, Mongan denied taking any other jewelry from the home.

However, police said further investigation revealed Mongan had engaged in “multiple transactions” at a pawn shop in Norristown, and authorities obtained documents and photos indicating that on Dec. 23, Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, Mongan sold 10 pieces of jewelry stolen from the house and was paid a total of $875.

While viewing photographs of the stolen and sold items, the victim “became emotional when she observed her engagement ring and her grandmother’s wedding ring,” Moyer wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Other charges of receiving stolen property, unsworn falsification to authorities and possession of a small amount of marijuana are slated to be dismissed against Mongan at time of sentencing in exchange for his guilty plea to the theft charges.