Crime & Safety
Father-in-Law Burglarized During Heart Surgery, Police Say
Stephen Mease, 26, of the 100 block of Prospect Avenue, has been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Police say a Nazareth man used his father-in-law's heart surgery as an opportunity to burglarize his house in Bushkill Township earlier this month.
Stephen Mease, 26, of the 100 block of Prospect Avenue, was charged Wednesday with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
According to township police, Mease's in-laws came home Wednesday and discovered two rings, valued at $10,000, missing from their home.
Find out what's happening in Nazarethwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Around the same time, their daughter, who lives in Palmer Township, called to report her car missing. The car is in the father-in-law's name, and he had given his daughter permission to drive it, police said.
Police in Palmer Township got in touch with Mease, who turned himself in. He was then turned over to Bushkill police.
Find out what's happening in Nazarethwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to court records, Mease admitted to burglarizing the home on June 7, saying he knew his in-laws wouldn't be home because of the surgery.
Police say he pawned the rings to purchase heroin, getting less than $200.
Mease was arraigned before on-duty District Judge Richard Yetter in Wilson and sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $35,000 bail.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.