Police seek public's aid with arresting thieves

Last Thursday afternoon, between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., some individuals walked onto the Gnaden Huetten Campus of Blue Mountain Health System, Lehighton, and stole several purses belonging to employees.

Within an hour, credit cards from the purses were utilized to purchase $1,300 worth of items at Wal-Mart, Giant Food Market, Giant Gas Station, and Rite Aid, all in Mahoning Township.

Mahoning Township Chief of Police Ken Barnes said he is requesting assistance from the public in apprehending the individuals responsible.

Cameras in the stores where the cards were used captured images of the suspects.

Chief Barnes said besides the merchandise bought in Mahoning Township, additional credit card fraud was committed in other areas outside of Mahoning Township.

He added that the suspected individuals responsible are three black females and one black male, driving a silver vehicle - possibly a GM product.

Besides the credit cards, the police chief said the purses contained other items including the identification of the victims.

Both the Lehighton Borough Police Department and the Mahoning Township Police Department are involved in the investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Mahoning Police at 570-386-2241.

Chief Barnes said it is not believed these are the same individuals who committed thefts at the CVS Drug Store in Nesquehoning on Jan. 26.

In Nesquehoning, police said three black females came into the store at 5:11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 with a device capable of deactivating security bar codes on various items. Two of the females each filled a red carrying basket with products, and one filled a black duffel bag with a purple heart on it.

Quakertown and South Whitehall police reported having the same actors involved in thefts in their respective areas at CVS stores as occurred in Nesquehoning.