Burglar targeting Asian American business owners arrested
Frederick Gray, 45, of Henry Avenue in Philadelphia, was recently arrested for burglarizing the local home of an Asian American business owner.
On Sept. 30, 2023, a resident of Village Greene Boulevard in Bensalem, arrived home to find the front door unlocked, basement door broken and open, and the house ransacked. Police were contacted. Video surveillance from the residence showed a white Sprinter van parked in the driveway, and subjects forcing open the basement door and entering the home. One of them had a black handgun in his hand as he went through the residence, turning cameras to obscure the view of the subjects as they burglarized the home.
Afterward, the van left the property and the registration plate was captured by a stationary license plate reader, with the vehicle’s registered owner found to be Gray. A few days later, Bensalem officers stopped the van and identified the driver as Gray. They also obtained his cell phone number, which they used to get a search warrant for his cell phone records. An examination of the records put Gray in the general area around the time of the burglary, but police still didn’t have probable cause to charge him.
Over the next five months, detectives conducted a systematic investigation using technology, search warrants and other investigative techniques to build a case. On April 15, detectives obtained a search warrant to seize Gray’s cell phone and collect DNA. Officers observed Gray’s van and conducted a traffic stop, seizing his phone, collecting his DNA and sending him on his way.
A forensic examination of the phone revealed text messages where Gray orchestrated the location and timing of the burglary on Village Greene Boulevard at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30. He also provided videos of the home to a co-conspirator so that they went to the correct location. Bensalem Police detectives used this information to obtain an arrest warrant for Gray.
On April 17, at 7:40 a.m., Bensalem officers observed the Sprinter van in the Street Road and Old Lincoln Highway area, conducted a traffic stop and took Gray into custody on the arrest warrant. Gray had a GPS tracker in his possession, which can be covertly placed on the underside of a vehicle.
Gray was charged with Burglary, Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $250,000 bail.
During the investigation, Bensalem Police found evidence of a group of criminals targeting Asian Americans who have businesses in Philadelphia. There is also evidence that GPS trackers are being placed on the vehicles of these business owners to identify and target their homes. Similar crimes have been reported in surrounding counties. Bensalem Police are closely coordinating with police departments throughout the region to identify the other persons involved in the burglary on Village Greene Boulevard and similar crimes in the area.
If you have any information about these targeted crimes, contact Bensalem Police at 215-633-3719 or bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/.
Bensalem PD, Economic Development Corporation launch Bensalem Secure
A total of 14 retail theft arrests were recently made in a single week by Bensalem Police thanks to the department’s new partnership with the Bensalem Township Economic Development Corporation.
Earlier this year, the two united to launch the Bensalem Secure Theft Reduction Taskforce, a multifaceted approach to reducing retail theft in the township and beyond. This initiative was announced during the inaugural Bensalem Secure Summit on Jan. 31. Businesses large and small are invited to participate in the taskforce, attend free workshops, make inquiries, share information and take advantage of free resources that aim to deter theft and improve Bensalem’s business environment.
“Our goal is to bring our business community together in collaboration with law enforcement to reduce theft with practical and sustainable solutions,” said Bob Norkus, executive director, BEDC.
Local businesses can take advantage of the following through Bensalem Secure:
- The free Bensalem Secure toll-free hotline for employees to report internal or external theft concerns safely and anonymously. The phone number is 888-826-7471.
- Free window decals and posters that would inform would-be thieves that Bensalem protects its community and prosecutes all crimes. Email [email protected] or call 484-354-0287 to order.
- The Fusus Cloud-networking camera program helps keep communities safer by enabling businesses and organizations to collaborate more closely with the Bensalem Police Department to mitigate and investigate criminal activity in their neighborhoods.
Bensalem Police will post a list of people arrested for retail theft and related charges in the township each week at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/. Bensalem Police has zero tolerance for retail thefts and will arrest anyone who is detained or identified as committing these types of crimes. Persons on the list are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Walmart retail theft
Bensalem Police are investigating a retail theft at the Walmart located at 3461 Horizon Blvd. on April 21. It was reported at approximately 10:10 p.m. that an unknown white male entered the store and stole roughly $100 worth of merchandise. He fled the area in an older model green pickup truck with a New Jersey registration.
If you have any information regarding his identity, submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/ or call Bensalem Police at 215-633-3719.
Shots fired investigation
On April 19, between 9:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., it was reported that possible shots were being fired in the area of Franklin Commons Building 6. Further investigation revealed three vehicles were vandalized at that time due to being hit by gunfire.
Bensalem Police are asking residents to check their surveillance cameras for suspicious activity on that date between those hours. If you have any information regarding this incident, submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/ or call Bensalem Police at 215-633-3719.
Arrest warrant for Giant retail thefts
An arrest warrant has been issued for Richard Santana-Aponte, 55, of Philadelphia, who was identified following an investigation into the reports of nine thefts that occurred at the Giant, 176 W. Street Road in Feasterville. The retail thefts occurred on March 30, and April 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13. The total value of these thefts is over $3,700.
Santana-Aponte is the owner operator of a 1997 dark green Toyota Corolla, which is displaying PA registration MKV8416. If you know the whereabouts of Santana-Aponte, call Lower Southampton Police at 215-357-1234 or submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/lowersouthamptontwppd/. If you encounter him and/or his vehicle, call 911 and report your location to the dispatcher. Do not approach or confront him.
Five Below retail theft
On April 17, four females were disorderly and committed a $200 retail theft at the Five Below, 95 E. Street Road, Feasterville. They fled the area in a gold in color SUV that displayed a temporary New Jersey registration plate.
If you know who these individuals are, call Lower Southampton Police at 215-357-1234 or submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/lowersouthamptontwppd/.
