Crime & Safety

SouthSide Man Accused of Stealing Debit Card, Cash

Suspect was already being held in jail in connection to an August home invasion robbery.

 

A South Bethlehem man already in hot water for his alleged role in a in the city last month was charged Thursday with stealing a debit card from his girlfriend’s grandmother and bilking her bank account of hundreds of dollars, according to court records.

Anthony Figueroa-Rivera, 24, of 429 E. Third St., allegedly pinched the debit card out of the woman’s purse on May 4 and made several withdrawals from her bank account at ATMs in Allentown and Bethlehem over the next five days, according to an arrest warrant.

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The affidavit isn’t completely clear on how much money was stolen. The victim told police that $540 had been removed from her account. After waiving his Miranda rights, Figueroa-Rivera admitted to police that he had taken $800, according to the warrant.

Figueroa-Rivera was charged with access device fraud, a felony, and theft and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned Thursday before and had $75,000 tacked on to his bail.

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Figueroa-Rivera was already incarcerated at Northampton County Prison under $250,000 bail for allegedly leading a home invasion robbery at 1140 Amplex St. on Aug. 13.

According to court records, Figueroa-Rivera allegedly brandished a “large kitchen knife” and forced his victims to sit on the floor while his accomplices removed a number of items from the home, including a 50-inch flat screen television, cell phones, clothes, two pair of sneakers and numerous other electronic devices.


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