Resident Interrupts Burglary in Ardmore, Police Say

On Monday afternoon, Lower Merion police relayed the following incidents to news media. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, they do not indicate guilt or a conviction.

Theft from car: A black leather wallet worth $30, $50 in cash and a credit card were stolen from a vehicle parked on the 100 block of Haverford Road in Penn Wynne between the evening of Nov. 19 and the morning of Nov. 20, police said. The car’s owner had locked the doors but left her windows about two inches open; it’s believed the thief reached through the window to unlock the door before stealing the items, police said.

Burglary: Police believe a resident of the 100 block of Elm Rd. in Ardmore may have interrupted a burglary at his residence last week, they said. After locking the doors and leaving for the day at 3:50 p.m. on Nov. 20, a resident returned to his home at 12:07 a.m. that night and saw a light on and several items misplaced. He then called police, who discovered that an unlocked first floor window was open, according to the report.

Police said it appears that the burglary was in progress when the student returned home, as the television and a backpack were staged for removal, and trash cans by the home’s rear door were knocked over.

Public drunkenness: Police responded to a call for a dispute over cab fare on Nov. 25 to find the unpaid passenger passed out in the back of the taxi, according to the police report.

After waking the 20-year-old with difficulty, she paid her taxi fare with a credit card and the driver left the scene. Police said they would have brought the woman home, but when asked for identification, she produced a fake ID and a fake address—which was discovered when police took her to the address listed and were told by residents that she didn’t live there, police said.

The woman was arrested for her own safety and was cited for false identification, underage drinking and public drunkenness. She registered .173 on a blood alcohol content test.

DUI and drug possession: A car was stopped by police at 2:18 a.m. on Nov. 25 after it was observed driving near Ardmore Ave. and E Athens Ave. with no headlights on, moving less than 10 miles per hour and weaving into oncoming traffic, police said.

The 24-year-old driver had difficulty sitting upright, couldn’t keep his head up, and when asked to produce identification, handed officers a Costco coupon. According to police, the actor was observed trying to conceal items as they were speaking, including a glass pipe, grinder and rolling papers, used to smoke marijuana. The man registered .154 on a preliminary breath test, police said; he was cited for driving under the influence and drug possession.

Criminal mischief: A complainant told police that two males removed six plants from pots  in front of Rittenhouse Electric Supply in Ardmore around 2:34 a.m. on Nov. 25 and threw them in the street, police said.