August 31, 2006 Issue                                       

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Police nab burglar found by Wyndmoor homeowner
by JENNIFER KATZ

Officers at the corner of Gravers Lane and Prospect Avenue during a manhunt for two would-be Wyndmoor burglars. (Photo by Scott Alloway)

Police nabbed a burglar in Chestnut Hill after a multi-unit chase from Springfield Township just after noon on August 24. A second suspect was able to escape capture.

Springfield Township police arrested David Williams, 23, for burglary in the 400 block of East Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill. According to Police Chief Randall Hummel, they caught Williams, of Olney, hiding behind a house after fleeing the scene of the burglary in Wyndmoor.

“He was attempting to hide in the back of the homes on Gravers Lane,” said Hummel. “But he was spotted and taken into custody.”

The second suspect was not apprehended although several units from the township and several more from the 14th police district responded to the call and helped pursue the suspects.

“We had several cars and a canine from Plymouth out there,” said Hummel, who was disappointed that the second suspect was not apprehended. “We lost him near the Septa tracks.” Hummel said Williams has not divulged the name of his cohort thus far.

According to police, Williams and the other would-be burglar were discovered breaking into a house in the 500 block of Auburn Avenue by the homeowner.

The man was alone at the time, said police. He told them he heard glass break and called 911. While on the phone with police, the man walked into his kitchen to find Williams standing there. Williams fled immediately.

Hummel said police were dispatched to the scene, where a bicycle officer observed the two men running from the back of the house.

“We’ve had several burglaries,” said Hummel. “So we have officers saturating that area.”

The suspects reportedly fled on foot across Stenton Avenue into Chestnut Hill, where Williams was apprehended.

Police seized a vehicle from the location of the crime that is registered to Williams, said Hummel. Several items were taken from the vehicle in conjunction with the investigation.

Hummel said they are looking into whether or not these suspects are responsible for other similar burglaries in the neighborhood. Williams and the other burglar allegedly broke a windowpane in a rear door of the house to gain entry.

“They go in through the rear,” explained Hummel. “There are larger homes. And it’s a mature area so there are large trees and shrubbery that make it easy to go undetected.”

Capt. Winton Singletary, of the 14th police district, who was working the street on Thursday at the time of the event, said it was fortuitous that the burglar was being charged in Montgomery County. Singletary said too often Philadelphia jails are overcrowded causing suspects to spend less time locked up.

“They have room over there to hold him,” said Singletary. “Maybe he’ll talk and we can solve some of these other burglaries too.”

Williams was arraigned before Montgomery County District Justice Catherine Fried. His bail was set at $30,000 cash and he is currently being held in Montgomery County jail.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.