Lunchtime Pickpocket Charges $14,000 on Stolen Credit Cards

Credit cards stolen from women's purses in Doylestown this week were used to buy more than $14,000 worth of gift cards and merchandise, Doylestown Borough police said Friday.

The thief stole the cards from the purses as they were hanging on the backs of chairs at North Main Street restaurants on Monday and Tuesday, police said. A third theft was from an employee of a borough boutique, whose credit card was stolen from her purse behind the counter of the business.

Doylestown Police Chief Jim Donnelly said Friday the first two incidents happened at different restaurants, one at and one at .

The victims didn't know the cards had been taken until their credit card companies called them, Donnelly said.

"The card companies called and told them there had been several large purchases on the cards, so they won't be liable for those charges," Donnelly said.

The police have video surveillance of the thief using the cards, Donnelly said.

"We expect to be able to resolve this soon," he said.

Three credit cards were stolen from the first victim's wallet on Monday, Oct. 31, around 12:15 p.m., police said.

Those cards were used to buy gift cards and merchandise totaling $6,694.85 from several Home Depot, Walgreen's, Wal-Mart and Target stores in Warrington, Warminster and Bristol, police said. The charges were made between 12:39 p.m. and 2:13 p.m.

The second victim was eating lunch on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when three credit cards were stolen from her wallet between 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

They were used to buy gift cards and obtain cash advances at a Walgreen’s store in Warrington, police said. One card also was used to buy merchandise from a West State Street boutique.

The transactions were made between 11:49 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. and totaled $3,178.44, police said.

In the third incident, a credit card was stolen from a West State Street boutique that same afternoon. The card had been in the victim's wallet, in her handbag behind the boutique's counter, police said.

The credit card was used at Target, Lowe’s, and Walgreen’s. Charges totaled $4,403.

Here are the other items reported in this week's police log:

Theft

An iPod Touch, vehicle registration and insurance cards, and a checkbook were stolen from an unsecured vehicle parked on S. Pine Street in the area of the Michener Museum.

The theft occurred sometime between 7:00 PM on Friday, October 21 and 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 22. 

Theft

A box containing 30 cartons of cigarettes was stolen from the office area of a Main Street convenience store on Friday, October 21 at approximately 5:40 PM.

The male suspect is described as approximately 5’ tall, 50-60 years old, thin gray hair, last seen wearing a blue jacket over a black fleece, blue jeans, and black boots.

The cigarettes are valued at $1,824.00.

Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer

Charges have been filed against Nicholas Muller, 22, Greenwood Terrace, Chalfont, for representing himself as a police officer while creating a disturbance at an Ashland Street restaurant on Friday, October 28 at approximately 11:38 PM.

Muller was wearing a dark blue uniform shirt with NYPD patches, a bulletproof vest, dark blue cargo pants, a belt with a holster and several pouches attached, and a fake badge. He allegedly told employees that he was an officer as they were attempting to escort him off the property.

Muller is also charged with defiant trespass, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.

Driving Under the Influence

Lucas Schultz, 25, Lombardy Drive, Lansdale, was arrested on Saturday, October 29 at approximately 4:36 AM after officers received the report of three intoxicated males arguing about who would drive a vehicle from a Main Street convenience store.

During the investigation, which revealed that Schultz had driven to the store, Schultz was noted to exhibit signs of intoxication. He was asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed.

Schultz was transported to Doylestown Hospital for blood tests.

Criminal Mischief

A representative from reported that someone had damaged a fence next to the business sometime during the overnight hours of Saturday, October 29 into Sunday, October 30.

The damage was estimated at approximately $250.00.

Criminal Mischief

Two windows at were damaged sometime between the close of business on Saturday, October 29 and 9:19 AM on Sunday, October 30.

A large rock was thrown through the front window; a smaller object was thrown through a small plate glass window of the kitchen.

No estimate for the damage has been provided.

Motor Vehicle Theft

A vehicle parked in the lot of a W. State Street apartment complex was reported stolen on Sunday, October 30.

The victim reported that he parked the vehicle at approximately 11:00 PM on Saturday, October 29 and discovered it missing at approximately 9:30 AM on Sunday, October 30.

Bad Checks

Citations have been filed against Eric Butler, 36, Park Avenue, Chalfont, and Matthew Saracini, 31, Swetland Drive, Doylestown, after they allegedly failed to make good on checks presented to a Main Street bookstore.

Butler’s check was written on August 7 in the amount of $37.68. Saracini’s check was written on August 25 in the amount of $29.63. Both checks were returned for insufficient funds.

Criminal Mischief

Graffiti was discovered on a parking meter on the tens block of N. Main Street on Wednesday, November 2.

Graffiti was written in black marker.

Criminal Mischief

Graffiti was discovered on an exterior wall of a N. Main Street restaurant on Wednesday, November 2 at approximately 12:00 PM.

Graffiti was written in black marker.

Vandalism

A vehicle parked in the Bucks County VIP lot on Court Street was damaged between 7:15 AM and 3:30 PM on Wednesday, November 2.  

Deep scratches were observed on the vehicle’s roof, trunk, hood, and passenger side.

No estimate for the damage has been reported.