Mahoning police report arrests
Mahoning Township Police Chief Kenneth J. Barnes has released the following reports:
On Nov. 6 at about 6:35 p.m., police were dispatched to the Wal-Mart Super Center, as loss prevention agents had a male in custody for retail theft. Michael Dillon Hontz, 21, of the 600 block of Upper Nis Hollow Road, Mahoning Township, was arrested and subsequently charged with retail theft and released. Merchandise value was less than $200.
On Nov. 8 at about 5:43 p.m., a homeowner in the 900 block of Upper Nis Hollow Road reported to police that between 1:15 and 6:10 p.m., unknown criminals forcibly entered the residence.
The investigation showed entry was gained by prying open the back door and possibly slipping a credit card into the crack and opening the door. Once inside the criminals ransacked the master bedroom, and jewelry was thrown about. It appears the intruders were scared off or out of the house, as what was intended to have been stolen was left behind in haste to escape the residence. Anyone having information or witnessing this event is urged to call police at (570) 386-2241. Officer Tyler Meek is the investigating officer.
On Nov. 8 at about 1:30 p.m., police were notified by officers of the Plainfield Township Police Department in Northampton County that they had an arrest warrant for an individual who was part of an alleged burglary ring. The warrant was charging the wanted person with 10 counts each of burglary, criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit burglary. Information relayed was that the individual was hiding at a residence in the Lehighton area and that later on in the evening he would be at the Wal-Mart Super Center.
Officers from Mahoning, Franklin Township, Lehighton and state police coordinated a plan with assigned Plainfield Township officers to arrest of the individual. At about 6:45 p.m., a felony traffic stop was conducted in Lehighton. Michael P. Caggiano, 23, of West Main St., Pen Argyl, was arrested without incident and turned over to Plainfield Township authorities.
