Police Beat

Pennsylvania State Police say a Lansdale man, who was a passenger in a Honda Civic, was thrown from the car after it hit a utility pole in Salford Township just after 12am Tuesday. Troopers arrived on the scene to find the car sliced down the middle after it impacted the utility pole. State Police say, 21-year-old, Ryan Petrille, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene on Route 563, in the area of Sugar Hill Road. The Driver, 21-year-old Sean Sperl, also of Lansdale, was treated at the hospital for his injuries. According to accident investigation, speed was a factor in the crash.

Last week two homes in Franconia Township were burglarized. In one case, the perpetrators simply kicked the door in. Franconia Township Police Chief Joe Koseniewski, urges resident to be prepared when they’re not home. He recommends a good dead bolt steal door, and suggests another method of protection.

“Now the alarm systems with the current technology have become so much more affordable and more dependable they’re actually worth looking in to an investment there. If anyone wants to call the police department we have officers trained in crime prevention techniques that can offer them tips on how to harden their house.”

Chief Koseniewski says, some people still leave their doors unlocked. he says burglars often case homes by knocking on the door to see if anyone is home. if someone is home, they say they got the wrong house. If no one answers they simply open the door and walk in or try to break in.

The suspect in an armed robbery at a Lukoil gas station escaped, but police have him on surveillance video. Hatfield Township Police say, it happened just before 10am Monday, when a black male entered the Lukoil location on the corner of North Broad street and Cowpath road with a gun. The assailant demanded cash and cigarettes, and then fled with the money and merchandise. The suspect is described as being 5-8 with a thin build. He was wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and a white and gray piece of material over his face. You can view the surveillance of the crime on the www.hatfieldpolice.org anyone with information is urged to call Hatfield Township detectives at (215) 855-0903

There are numerous ways drivers can allow themselves to be distracted. A local Police Officer is cautioning motorists to focus while behind the wheel. Montgomery Township Public Safety Officer, Dave Dunlop says there are just too many drivers using cell phones and texting.

“At any giver time there are approximately
800-thousand drivers across the United States that either talking on their cell phone or texting. That’s nearly one million at any given time. Drivers are about 4 times likely to have an accident while on a cell phone. The numbers for drivers who are texting is much higher. Drivers who text are 8 times more likely to be involved in a crash.”

April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month