Residents are urged to be aware as “distraction burglars” have targeted at least two homes recently. Police are continuing to investigate other potential distraction burglaries.
For example, on Friday afternoon on Bill Drive in East Cocalico Township, a man was able to ransack a home after tricking a female occupant to come outside. The suspect who came to that door told the female occupant he needed to inspect her property because he was building a fence for a neighbor. While she outside, the house was ransacked. Two males seen during the incident.
Also on Friday afternoon in nearby Spring Township, across the Berks County line, a similar type of burglary was reported. An occupant was lured outside, and the home was burglarized.
A short Hispanic male with a mustache is reported to be involved in that crime, on Old Lancaster Pike. A second robber stayed in a vehicle which was described as a clean white Dodge or Chrysler minivan. The suspect told the occupant he needed to get a tape measure and that he would come right back. He never did. The woman went inside and noticed a bedroom was burglarized: a safe had been opened and $250 was stolen from a dresser. Both suspects were reported to be male, similar to the Bill Drive burglary.
Anyone with information about the men, or anyone who was a victim, should contact East Cocalico Township police at 717-336-1725.
