Crime & Public Safety
Incidents in Telford, Hatfield, and Lansdale lead to arrests, with hearings set in August, October, and November
Three people are facing criminal charges in unrelated incidents of alleged trespassing and burglary in Montgomery County, according to police affidavits, with one man allegedly carrying a machete in his backpack in a Telford incident.
Telford man accused of breaking into occupied home, machete found in backpack, police say
Terence Lipford, 40, of the unit block of Grandview Drive, Telford Borough, was charged by Telford Police with felony burglary of an occupied structure, felony criminal trespassing, misdemeanor possessing an instrument of crime, misdemeanor criminal mischief, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, according to court documents.
Telford Police said they responded to a burglary in progress at 2:50 a.m. July 25, 2025 at a South Main Street home, where residents reported being awakened by a man — later identified as Lipford — breaking into their locked bedroom, police said. The victims told police they did not know the man, who repeatedly asked about his children and ran from the residence after being told to leave, according to the complaint.
Officers found broken glass from a side door and a yellow snow shovel nearby. A backpack containing a machete was located on the sidewalk, along with a wallet and identification for Lipford, police said.
A K-9 track led officers to his nearby residence, where police detained him.
Lipford allegedly told investigators he broke in after hearing voices in his head claiming children were being harmed inside, and admitted using drugs prior to the incident.
He also described using the shovel to break the glass at the home on the 500 block. The victims later identified Lipford as the intruder, police said.
Lipford is jailed at Montgomery County Correctional Facility on 10% of $75,000 cash bail. An Aug. 13 preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman. He is represented by a public defender.
Hatfield man charged in attempted trespassing, police say
Francisco Machado Garcia, 37, of Hatfield, was charged by Hatfield Police with felony attempted criminal trespassing, misdemeanor loitering and prowling at night, and public drunkenness, according to charging documents.
Hatfield Police said officers were dispatched at 10:55 p.m. July 27 to Latch String Lane for a report of a man trying to enter a home. The resident told police he saw an unfamiliar man on his Ring camera pulling hard on the front door handle, making noises as if kicking it, according to the affidavit.
Officers found Machado Garcia nearby, matching the homeowner’s description, police said. Police alleged he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, and appeared unsteady. He allegedly declined a portable breath test. Surveillance video confirmed him as the person attempting entry, police said.
Court records show Machado Garcia is also awaiting a preliminary hearing in Bucks County on separate misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct charges from a July 6 arrest in Hilltown Township.
Machado Garcia is free on $1,000 unsecured bond, ahead of an Oct. 8 preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine. Machado Garcia is represented by a public defender.
Transient woman accused of entering Lansdale basement, police say
Jahannah Pitchford, 25, a transient living around Lansdale Borough, was charged by Lansdale Police with felony criminal trespassing, misdemeanor defiant trespassing of a fenced property, misdemeanor loitering and prowling at night, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous situation, according to charging documents.
Lansdale Police said officers were called at 8:57 p.m. July 31 to a home on the 300 block of Green Street for a reported break-in. The homeowner told police that a woman — later identified as Pitchford — had come to the front door earlier asking for someone named “Adam,” left without explanation, and was later found in the basement, police said.
Police said the fenced property’s basement can only be accessed from inside the house or via a gated exterior entrance.
Pitchford was detained nearby and identified by the homeowner as the intruder. She was taken into custody at 9:22 p.m.
Pitchford is free on $25,000 unsecured bond ahead of a Nov. 5 preliminary hearing before Levine.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
