Police prevent East Falls home from being burglarized for second time in two weeks

An East Falls home burglarized two weeks ago was the target of a second burglary attempt last week. 

On Monday, Feb. 11 at 7:58 p.m., multiple suspects were seen by Philadelphia Police peering in the windows of a home on the 4000 block of Apalogen Rd. near School House Lane, according to departmental reports.

Realizing they were spotted by police, the suspects – described only as “males” by police, with no further information released – got back into their vehicle and drove off. They were stopped by police, and a subsequent search revealed that they were in possession of a crow bar, black gloves, and a walkie-talkie.

This burglary attempt mimics a crime that occurred at the same home two weeks prior.

On Monday, Jan. 28 at 4:40 p.m., the residents of the house were robbed at gunpoint. The primary victim, described in police reports as being a 70-year-old female, came home from work that afternoon, followed by two suspects armed with handguns.

The offenders, described as being two black males in their 20s, entered the house through the unlocked door, pulled out black handguns, and asked, “Where’s the money?”

When the victim responded that neither she nor her husband had any money, she was hit in the head with a gun by one of the suspects. The suspects then ushered the victim and her husband to their bedroom and took a wallet containing $600 dollars in cash, an ID and a bank card from the pants of the victim’s husband.

The first suspect is described as being a tall black man in his 20s with light complexion, who was wearing blue uniform-style pants and shirt, and a face mask.

The second suspect is described as being a short black male in his 20s with light complexion who was wearing similar clothing and a face mask.

At the time of the first incident, police indicated that this was a targeted robbery. Subsequently, Capt. Michael Craighead, commanding officer of the 39th Police District, said that while the two suspects could not be linked to the robbery, they are being charged for the alleged burglary attempt.

Craighead credited two observant officers from the 39th District for making the apprehension, and offered words of solace to those expressing concern about the roving criminals.

“They’re off the streets,” he said.