East Falls hit with string of car break-ins

Residents in East Falls have filed numerous reports of thefts from vehicles over the last two months.

Valued between $1 and $2,000, the losses include several missing tags and tires.

Sergeant Mark O’Fee of the 39th District says that between Nov. 12 and Jan.14, “there were only four stolen autos” but “35 thefts from autos” within East Falls. Police did not comment on whether they suspect one individual or several behind the burglaries.

On at least two occasions, neighbors noticed individuals rifling through cars on the street. Several of the targeted automobiles were unlocked, and only a few of the reports include smashed windows.

Most of these incidents occurred during the night hours.

In one such incident reported on Nov. 14, an owner remembered parking his car in one position the night before, and finding it facing the opposite direction the following morning, propped on four smaller, spare tires.

The string of thefts are spread throughout the East Falls neighborhood, with repeat offenses on the 3600 block of Calumet St., the 3200 block of Penn St,, the 2900 block of West Schoolhouse Ln., the 2800 block of Midvale Ave. and the 4200 block of Kelly Dr.