Police: Bookstore Robber Wanted to Buy Meth

A Lehighton man accused of robbing the on Wednesday told police he was trying to get $100 to buy a half-gram of crystal methamphetamine, according to court records.

Daniel Fink, 28, of 123½ S. Fourth St., Lehighton, was caught in large part thanks to the effort of an off-duty Bethlehem police officer who, while passing by the bookstore, heard the clerk scream that she had been robbed.

According to the arrest affidavit:

The clerk told police that Fink had initially asked her to give him four quarters for a dollar bill. She made change and he left. But he returned a short time later and asked her about a book. Then he asked to get the dollar bill back because he no longer needed the quarters.

When the clerk took the quarters and opened the drawer, Fink allegedly reached in and started grabbing cash. He allegedly grabbed all the cash in the drawer and ran out of the store. The clerk chased him and screamed that she had been robbed.

Police responded to the scene and were quickly able to capture Fink and recover the stolen money.

Fink was charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police found a needle inside of Fink’s shorts’ pocket, according to the affidavit.

Fink was arraigned before District Judge Douglas Schlegel in Wind Gap and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.