Township Police: Third Suspect In ATV Theft Case Charged

Recent activity as reported by Newtown Township Police Department.

Monday, Sept. 19

Shortly after 2 p.m., police responded to a report of a retail theft at Genuardi’s. The manager of the store told the officer that a female subject had placed merchandise in her purse and attempted to leave the store without paying for it.  The manager stopped the woman, a 62 year-old Northampton resident, who will receive a summons in the mail charging her with the retail theft of merchandise valued at $103.34. 

Tuesday, Sept. 20

David Hackert, 18, of Penns Park Road in Rushland turned himself in to Newtown Township Detective Bush on Sept. 20 when he learned that there was an arrest warrant out for him in relation to a theft of an ATV in May.  Judge Benz released Hackert on his own recognizance in lieu of $30,000 bail.  Hackert was charged with: theft by unlawful taking, conspiracy of the theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy of receiving stolen property, as well as corruption of minors.  The corruption charge was filed because there were two juveniles involved in the theft and Hackert was the only adult involved.  The juveniles were charged in June and they remain on supervised juvenile probation. 

Around 8:40 a.m., a resident of Hillcroft Way reported that she parked her locked car in front of her residence at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening and the next morning she found that the rear window of her car had been smashed.  Nothing was missing from inside the car and the responding officer did not find any sort of projectile. No other vehicles in the area were damaged. 

Police were dispatched to Genuardi’s at approximately 11:40 a.m., when employees stopped an 81-year-old man from leaving the store without paying for merchandise he had concealed in his jacket.  Responding officers checked the subject’s criminal history and discovered that this was his first offense of shoplifting.  He will receive a citation in the mail charging him with taking $28 worth of merchandise. 

Shortly after 1 p.m., police responded to Worthington Mill Road for a report of criminal mischief to a vehicle.  The victim told police that he had parked his vehicle on Friday Sept. 16.  When he returned to his car Tuesday morning, the driver’s side door the rear window shattered when he closed the door. An examination of the window revealed a hole in the lower left side of the window apparently from some type of projectile. Nothing could be located inside the vehicle to indicate what may have broken the window

Wednesday, Sept. 21

While on patrol in the area of Newtown Gate Drive, an officer saw a vehicle without any inspection stickers.  The motorist was stopped at approximately 11:40 a.m. and the driver, 52-year-old Mark Higgins from Old Easton Road in Doylestown, could not provide proof of insurance. His driver’s license was also under suspension.  The vehicle was towed from the scene and Higgins was transported to a friend’s home. Police said he received a citation charging him with the inspection violation.  

A resident of Hershey Court called police around 12:45 p.m. to report a suspicious vehicle in front of her neighbor’s house.  The responding officer made contact with the neighbor and learned that the van belonged to a contractor working in her home. 

Friday, Sept. 23

Around 12 a.m., police stopped a motorist on Eagle Road because the rear light of the motorcycle was not working.  At the stop it was determined that the driver, 20-year-old Vergil Agostinelli of Wrightstown Road in Wrightstown Township, was operating the motorcycle without a motorcycle license and had consumed alcohol.  The bike was towed from the scene and Agostinelli will receive citations in the mail charging him with underage drinking and the licensing violation. 

Saturday, Sept. 24

Shortly after 1 p.m., police stopped a motorist on the Newtown Bypass because the registration had expired.  At the stop the officer learned that the driver, 37-year-old John Kemp from Warminster, was driving with a suspended license.  The license was seized and will be returned to PennDOT. Kemp was advised to call someone to drive the car from the scene.  Kemp will receive a citation in the mail for the violation. 

At approximately 8:40 p.m., a resident of Cloverlee Lane reported hearing what he believed to be a shot fired.  The responding officer learned that juveniles had set off fireworks on Skyview Way then ran into a nearby field.

Sunday, Sept. 25

Police received a report a theft from a car parked at La Stalla Restaurant. The victim told the officer that he left his vehicle in the parking lot overnight and when he returned, he discovered his laptop computer, valued at $1,000, had been stolen from the back seat.  The victim was confident that the car had been locked before he left it.  The officer inspected the vehicle and found some minor damage on the front right passenger door window jamb. The victim said that damage was new.  It appeared a blunt object had been used to pry the window area and doorjamb, police said. The investigation has been turned over to the Detective Bureau.