For months, officers in the 7th Police District have been on the lookout for a white van they believe has been used in numerous home burglaries.
On Monday, the unknown crooks struck again and left behind a strong trail of witness and video evidence, police say.
Two men attempted to break into an unoccupied house on the 9200 block of Masland St. in Bustleton at about 6:15 p.m. Police claim that the burglars met at the front door, then walked to the rear of the property. One burglar scaled a privacy fence while the other stood as a lookout.
The first burglar triggered an alarm when he forced open the back door, prompting both men to flee empty-handed.
Police believe that a third man was also involved, acting as a possible getaway driver. Just before and during the break-in attempt, a white van drove past the property several times. During the break-in, the first burglar was seen speaking on a cell phone continuously. Also, the second man was seen outside the property speaking with a third man about 90 minutes before the break-in attempt.
The first burglar was described as black, 20 to 27 years old with a light complexion and medium build. He wore a dark knit hat, gray hoodie with white drawstrings and a light-colored logo on the chest, along with dark pants and black shoes.
The second burglar was described as black, 20 to 27 years old and thin. He wore a dark hoodie, dark pants and tan work boots.
No description was available of the third man. The vehicle is a white Chevy work-type van with two rear doors and windows, two right-side doors and windows, logos on both front doors and lettering on both front doors and sides.
To view the surveillance video, visit the Philadelphia Police channel on YouTube.com. Call Northeast Detectives at 215–686–3153 to report information about the crime. ••
