Ploucher
A second Bridesburg man has been arrested in connection with the thefts of dozens of propane and acetylene tanks from two Northeast businesses last month.
On Jan. 5, police captured John Ploucher, 38, of the 4500 block of Richmond St., and named him as an accomplice of Stephan Williams, 49, also of the 4500 block of Richmond St. Williams’ Dec. 30 arrest was previously reported by the Northeast Times. Both men have been charged with burglary, trespassing, conspiracy, mischief and related offenses.
Police did not disclose the information that led them to implicate either man.
In three separate break-ins, the men allegedly stole 41 tanks of varying sizes. Investigators believe the men sought to sell the tanks as scrap metal.
Late on Dec. 16 or early on Dec. 17, they allegedly broke into the James D. Morrissey Inc. yard at 4720 Pennypack St. by cutting through a gate, then a chain-link enclosure to retrieve about a dozen tanks valued at $3,000. Also on Dec. 16, they allegedly committed a similar crime at Phax-Air at 2300 Church St., where $4,800 in property was stolen. They allegedly returned to Phax-Air on Dec. 22, and stole several more tanks of undisclosed value. ••
