A Lansdale man was arrested early Monday morning after police allegedly caught him in the act of cutting off two catalytic converters from a pair of vehicles at JL Freed on North Broad Street.
Police were dispatched to 2001 North Broad Street at 4:50 a.m. on Jan. 24 for a report of two subjects underneath a vehicle with a flashlight who were possibly cutting off a catalytic converter. Upon arrival, police said they could hear a reciprocating type saw cutting through metal and located a male subject wearing a black balaclava mask, later identified as 63-year-old Mark Murphy, of Lansdale.
Murphy was taken into custody, at which point police found a freshly cut catalytic converter in a green backpack filled with tools, according to the criminal complaint. Several feet from where Murphy was located, police found a freshly cut catalytic converter and reciprocating saw lying underneath a different vehicle.
Combined damage to the two vehicles was listed as $5,007.58. A second suspect was not located or arrested, according to the complaint.
As a result of the incident, Murphy was charged with felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, along with a misdemeanor charge of possessing an instrument of crime.
Murphy was arraigned Tuesday morning by District Judge John Kessler, who set bail at $10,000 unsecured. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. in front of Judge Kessler.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
‘Ghost Gun’ Recovered from Fugitive During Traffic Stop in Montgomery Township, Police Say
Lansdale Woman Arrested on Drug Charges for Third Time in 10 Months
