Phoenixville inspector charged with stealing from fire victim’s home

A preliminary hearing has been set for later this month for the Phoenixville codes enforcement officer charged with stealing from a fire victim’s home. Frank Tallarico was arraigned April 1 on misdemeanor theft charges.

The case is reminscent of the nine CLIP workers charged in 2009 for stealing from Philadelphia homes they were supposed to be improving.

According to report by the Pottstown Mercury, Tallarico was called to investigate a possible electrical fire in a borough home after the house caught fire from a faulty oil burner.

When the homeowner left the residence for a few minutes Nov. 23, Tallarico was seen entering and exiting the house, allegedly taking with him two $100 bills left on a desk. Though he denied the charges then, Tallarico has since admitted to taking the money. He resigned March 29.