The Abington Township Police Department announced today the arrest of Ephraim Frank of Runnemede, New Jersey, for committing distraction-style burglaries in Huntingdon Valley and Philadelphia.

An investigation began on April 8 when Abington police responded to a completed burglary of a home in the 1600 block of Pennypack Road (Huntingdon Valley). The resident said she was approached by a male who offered to complete tree work on her property for a low cost. He spoke with her in the rear yard for approximately twenty minutes before talking to someone on the phone and abruptly leaving the property, police said. 

When the resident returned to the inside of her home, she discovered that cash and jewelry had been stolen from an upstairs bedroom. Police determined that the male lured the resident outside and kept her occupied while a second suspect entered the home and stole valuables.

Abington detectives identified one of the suspects as Frank, who was also charged for a second distraction-style burglary that occurred in the 11000 block of Knights Road in Philadelphia on March 28.

Frank was arrested in New Jersey and extradited to Montgomery County to be arraigned on two counts of burglary and related charges. On July 17, his bail was set at $50,000 and he was transferred to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, police said.

Abington police worked on the case with the cooperation of Philadelphia police and the District Attorney’s Offices of Montgomery County and Philadelphia.

The investigation is ongoing as Abington police continue efforts to identify and charge the second suspect. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Robert Hill at (267) 536-1101 or rhilljr@abingtonpa.gov.

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Photo: ATPD