Crime & Safety
Suspect in Burglary Spree Waives Hearing
Angel Vargas is accused in more than 100 burglaries in 5-county area, including some in city.
Angel Miguel Vargas, the Allentown man charged along with his brother in more than 100 burglaries and attempted burglaries, waived his charges Tuesday to Lehigh County Court.
The hearing for Vargas’ brother, George Washington, was continued.
Vargas, 30, and Washington, 28, who lived at 318 N. Second St., Allentown, were charged in a string of burglaries and attempted burglaries of businesses in a five-county area over 15 months, including businesses in South Whitehall.
Among the other locations were businesses in Salisbury, Lower Macungie, Upper Macungie, Bethlehem, Upper Saucon and Lower Nazareth townships, Bethlehem and Coopersburg.
Other locations were in Hanover Township in Lehigh County and Hanover Township in Northampton County, Freemansburg, Wind Gap, Quakertown, Allentown, Hazleton, St. Clair and the townships of Heidelberg, North Whitehall, Richland and Whitehall.
Total value of the items was put at $142,230, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. Damage was estimated at $76,829.
Washington is charged with 108 counts of burglary, 93 counts of criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, 16 counts of attempted burglary, and multiple counts of theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Vargas is charged with 93 counts of burglary, 93 counts of criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, nine counts of attempted burglary, and multiple counts of theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
The cases have been consolidated and will be prosecuted in Lehigh County.
