Credit: LevittownNow.com
A man was arrested by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rangers after a series of thefts at Neshaminy State Park in Bristol Township’s Croydon section.
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On Aug. 21, state park law enforcement rangers received a report that a man was stealing from All Seasons Marina.
Rangers reviewed security camera footage and learned from a state maintenance employee that a generator being rented by the park had also been targeted.
Additional review of the footage and the investigation led rangers to discover additional thefts at the state park that spans Bristol and Bensalem townships, according to court papers.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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The thefts occurred on several consecutive days in late August and resulted in about $3,700 in losses, rangers said.
Security camera footage showed the suspect entering All Seasons Marina each night on a bicycle while carrying fishing gear, authorities said.
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As part of the probe, rangers conducted overnight stakeouts of the park but did not locate him.
Early last week, three rangers conducted another stakeout at the marina as part of the investigation.
One ranger believed he spotted the suspect but lost sight of him.
About an hour later, another ranger saw the man.
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A ranger stopped the man and asked to see his fishing license, telling him that the marina was closed, authorities said.
The man reportedly said he did not have a fishing license or identification card but provided his name.
Rangers checked the man’s name through law enforcement records and identified him as a 41-year-old Philadelphia resident. He was found to have outstanding warrants for his arrest and was taken into custody.
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According to rangers, the man matched the description seen in the security camera footage.
Investigators allege he stole copper wiring and other parts from machines at the park.
The man was charged with several counts of theft and defiant trespassing, as well as violations of rules on state property and fishing without a license. He was preliminarily arraigned before Senior District Judge Joanne Kline and held on 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
