Lower Merion Police Committee Discusses Recent Burglaries
Residents are asked to report suspicious persons and behavior to police.
The Lower Merion Police Department has been seeing a substantial number of calls related to break-ins and burglaries, Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath said during his monthly report to the Police Committee at Wednesday night's Board of Commissioners meeting.
McGrath specifically cited the recent armed robbery in Merion in which a 15-year-old, 16-year-old and 17-year-old are charged with robbing someone and displaying a handgun. The handgun was later determined to be a BB gun, but McGrath said neither the victim nor responding officers would be able to tell the difference.
Though not mentioned at the Police Committee meeting, five burglaries were reported in the Narberth-Bala Cynwyd area at Tuesday's weekly briefing to the press, and there was a robbery at the Bryn Mawr Wine & Spirits Shop in late December.
Crime trends tend to be cyclical, McGrath said, and while specific individuals and groups have been responsible for some township burglaries, the most recent trend is that it is not one individual or one group but instead appears to be multiple individuals.
McGrath advised the public to report suspicious behaviors and activity rather than to be on the lookout for specific people or vehicles. He also advised homeowners to use alarm systems as a precaution.
“When in doubt, call police,” said Commissioner Brian Gordon. “Lurking, sitting in cars … even so police can come by and see everything’s OK, the public is our first line of defense.”
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the crime discussed at the Police Committee meeting. The Merion crime referenced by McGrath was an armed robbery.
hubris 1
7:02 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
I get these "Patch" memo's sent to me almost everyday. I too have noticed an increase in the crime in Lower Merion. This morning reading this bothered me. The best police force in the state of Pennsylvania, and they are having a full hand dealing with the crime in this township.
Well, today I needed to see go to Ardmore. Long story short.........The look of those guys doesnt quite sit right with me. I have been in Ardmore almost my entire life, they dont belong there.....pants to their knees, crouching down in the car. Let me do a drive by.......Ouch, if looks could kill? Im not a crypt..........
I called police with just a ......Hey, look...Yada, Yada, Yada.......
Police pull up and the car makes a run for it. Crashes!!! 4 guys run. 2 get caught. 2 get arrested. Drugs, Drugs, Drugs.
It does work if you pay attention.
Why did I call? Because I read this , just this morning.....I figured I would let the Police sort it out. They called to thank me for the tip. I love this Township. Living here is a dream come true. Thank You LM Police.
Lynne
9:42 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
The Patch reporters who've been covering this issue have been mangling terminology for weeks. "Robbery" is taking something away from someone by force. "Burglary" is breaking into a structure to steal. So there's no such thing as a "recent armed burglary in Merion," as you claim above, when it was a hold-up - a robbery - by three young men. These are not interchangeable terms yet you use them that way. I speak from experience as the victim of an armed robbery and attempted kidnapping. This problem in our community is traumatic enough; the journalists covering it should be accurate.