Cops: Thief Caught in the Act for Second Time

Bristol Borough police arrested a man Thursday as he was caught by a homeowner’s family member  breaking into a  home on Pine Street a little after 3:30 p.m.

Its the second time in less than 50 days Michael Vickers of Bristol Borough has been arrested by local authorities.

Police were dispatched for a burglary in progress call on the 600 block of Spruce Street but were quickly re-directed to the 600 block of Pine Street, where Vickers was captured and subdued by a family member of the home on Spruce Street, according to police documents.

Vickers, police say, broke into the home intending to steal the copper plumbing pipes installed in the home. He claimed to have  an accomplice with him he only knew by first name.

Vickers, it’s alleged, cut away a screen to a window in a secluded breeze way to gain access to the residence.

Police have yet to locate the alleged second suspect Vickers told them about.

The homeowner, according to court documents, did not know the defendant nor gave him permission to access the property. Police searched Vickers after arresting him finding   burglary tools  often used to remove copper from homes including a pipe cutter and a snip tool, court records say.

In a separate case, Vickers was charged for  receiving stolen property and use of drug paraphernalia when he was arrested on  November 11  with barrels of scrap metal at the Tri State Metal Inc that he robbed from a man’s backyard, LevittownNow.com reported.

At the time Vickers name was not released because officials had yet to process him through the system.

Read November 11 Story Here 

In this case too, Vickers was taken down by  a resident of the borough, Tom Soto, who told LevittownNow.com he was  going to use the scrap metal and copper he was saving to purchase Christmas gifts for his son.

Vickers is charged with 2 counts of burglary, 2 counts of criminal trespass, theft and conspiracy and was sent to Bucks County Jail on 10 percent of $50.000.  He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Bristol Borough District Court on January 15.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.