Crime News

Bicycling Bandit Blamed in Bethlehem Robberies

A man who police say robbed stores and fled by bicycle is being charged with more crimes in both Lehigh and Northampton counties, including two stickups in Bethlehem.

  The "Bicycling Bandit" -- who wore a pig mask in one case and fled by bicycle after hitting convenience stores -- is being charged with six more robberies beyond the original six announced in December. Crimes in Bethlehem, Easton and Coopersburg have been added to charges against Steven Felton, 31, of 617 1/2 Walnut St., Emmaus. The new charges include crimes at three mini-marts and two cigarette stores, according to a Lehigh Valley Live report. Two of the robberies were in Bethlehem: Police from Emmaus, Allentown and Whitehall, along with members of the Lehigh County Drug Task Force, arrested Felton at his Emmaus address last month. He is jailed in Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail.  The initial robberies Felton was charged …

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Daryl Nerl

1:52 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Love the alliteration as a headline tool, but "burglaries" would have been incorrect in this case. The suspect is accused of robbery, which is a different crime.   more ›

Alleged Bicycle Bandit Lived in 'Storybook Neighborhood'

Neighbors of Steven S. Felton say the 600 block of Walnut Street in Emmaus is, for the most part, a great place to live.

The 600 block of Walnut Street in Emmaus looks much like many other streets on the north side of the borough. Turning onto Walnut Street from Seventh, large single-family brick homes line both sides, with neatly manicured front lawns and well-placed trees and shrubs. The holiday decorations are going up. A bit further on Walnut Street are a series of equally neat duplexes -- many brick, and all of an architectural design seen throughout the Lehigh Valley. It's a "storybook neighborhood," says a man who has lived in one of the double-block homes for five years. It's a place where he says he feels safe letting his second-grade daughter freely come and go. That is, he says, with the exception of the far end of the street, near Sixth Street. “…

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Man, 31, Charged as Bicycling Bandit

An Emmaus man has been charged as the 'Bicycle Bandit' who allegedly robbed stores in four Lehigh County towns.

A 31-year-old Emmaus man is facing charges as the "Bicycling Bandit" who allegedly robbed six convenience stores and beer distributors in October and November, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's office. The alleged robber is Steven Felton of 617 1/2 Walnut St., Emmaus. Police from Emmaus, Allentown and Whitehall, along with members of the Lehigh County Drug Task Force, arrested Felton at his Emmaus address Friday. He was arraigned Friday night by District Judge Michael Pochron of Salisbury Township and was committed to Lehigh County Prison. His bail was set at $300,000.  According to court documents, Felton is charged in the following robberies: According to the arrest affidavit, Felton dressed in similar fashion in the …

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