Historic property next to ‘Germantown White House’ burglarized [video]

Philadelphia Police are seeking information that will help them track down the unknown man who broke into the historic Bringhurst House on Dec. 12 through a side window and stole “two large silver serving trays [and a] silver tea and coffee pot valued at $300.”

According to police, who released video of the robbery on Friday, the man in his 40s broke into the property just after 1 p.m. and loaded the items into a large black trash bag before fleeing on foot along Germantown Avenue.

The suspect is described as being between 5-feet-7 and 5-feet-10 tall with thin gray hair, and was unshaven with sunken facial features. At the time of the burglary, he was wearing a dark knit hat, black jacket with a multi-colored hood and dark colored pants, according to police.

The Bringhurst House is located next door to the Deshler-Morris House, aka the “Germantown White House” which twice sheltered George Washington. The property was originally owned by John Bringhurst, who built a carriage for Washington.

Police ask anyone with information about the case, or suspect, to call Northwest Detective Division at (215) 686-3353/54 or the tipsline at (215) 686-TIPS, text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or send it in via the department’s website.