Crime & Safety
Township Man Stole, Cashed Checks, Police Say
Bethlehem Township man is accused of stealing a checkbook from a SouthSide woman's mailbox and writing more than $2,000 in checks to himself, court records say.
A Bethlehem Township man is accused of stealing a Bethlehem woman's checkbook from her mailbox and writing more than $2,000 in checks to himself.
Robert Howard, 59, of 829 Cibby St., was charged Thursday with forgery and theft by deception.
City police say their investigation began when Carrie Tiscon of the 500 block of Pawnee Street came to them saying a checkbook had been stolen from her mailbox. She wasn't aware of the thefts, police say, until National Penn Bank contacted her about suspicious activity with her account.
According to police, Howard cashed checks from the checkbook at the National Penn branches at 916 W. Broad St. and 44 E. Broad St. between Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. Surveillance footage showed Howard in the bank when the checks were cashed, police say.
Court records say Howard wrote checks totaling $2050. He was arrested Thursday afternoon at the W. Broad Street bank when he came in to cash another check. Police say Howard told investigators an ex-girlfriend who owed him money had given him the checks.
Howard was arraigned before on duty District Judge Richard Yetter, and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $12,000 bail.
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