3 Charged In Burglary Spree Spanning Several Pa. Counties
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Three men have been charged with more than 30 burglaries or attempted burglaries in four counties in Pennsylvania, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Ralph Alberto Abreu, 21, who has no known address, Alex Ramos, 23, of Allentown, and Jose Antonio Cortes, 22, of Allentown were to be arraigned in Lehigh County Central Booking today on burglary and related charges.
Prosecutors say the burglaries occurred at commercial businesses between May 29th and July 19th in Lehigh, Berks, Northampton and Montgomery counties, with the majority of the burglaries in Lehigh County.
According to an affidavit filed by Pennsylvania State Police and Whitehall Township Police, the three allegedly removed registers, cigarette cartons and packs, change jars, cash and coins from the businesses. Authorities say the total amount of items stolen was $21,416, and the amount of damage totaled $33,721.
State Police say the suspects were captured on surveillance video at the burglary scenes.
The trio was arrested by State Police shortly after a burglary on July 19th at Sam's Pizza, located at the 5000 block of Route 873 in North Whitehall Township. Authorities say the three fled in a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle that had been captured on video in a previous burglary.
The three men are charged with multiple counts of burglary, criminal attempt at burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy to commit criminal trespass, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, theft, criminal conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to receiving stolen property.
