Police Put a Dent in Crime Spree With Burglar Arrest

At least one burglar will no longer be on the prowl in Lower Merion following an arrest on Thursday, Sept. 16.

Jorge Cruz, age 33 of Philadelphia, was caught by Lower Merion Police during Cruz's alleged fourth burglary in the township. Cruz is said to have robbed three houses from Penn Valley up through Gladwyne before being arrested while attempting to enter a home on Glenmore Avenue in Gladwyne.

Cruz was arraigned and bail was set at $100,000.

The burglaries were just a few of several throughout the township in the last several months. Most of the burglaries have been outside of Ardmore, Wynnewood and Merion, but all areas have been affected.

"Over the summer the burglary trend has remained fairly consistent and concentrated on the eastern end of the township," Superintendent of Lower Merion Police Michael McGrath said at a police committee meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 13. "There have been intermittent arrests, but unfortunately there is more than one individual or groups committing these crimes. It just serves as a reminder to everyone that we need to be vigilant."

"if you see any suspicious activity, please contact the police immediately," McGrath said. "We prefer that people simply call and let us investigate."

A number of burglaries and thefts were reported by the Police occurred in Ardmore and Wynnewood over the last week. Click here to see more details from the Lower Merion Police reports.