Thief thinking ahead?

A city man was arrested early yesterday after cops saw him pushing a snow blower that had been stolen from a church yard in Northern Liberties, police said.

The man, whom police did not identify, is accused of cutting a padlock to get into the fenced area of St. Peter's Church at 5th Street and Girard Avenue, where he removed the machine shortly after 7 a.m., police said. He was arrested minutes later nearby.

Man's death ruled a homicide

The death of a 72-year-old man whose body was found Friday in his home on Girard Avenue near 42nd Street in West Philadelphia, has been ruled a homicide.

The victim, whom police did not identify, most likely died of strangulation or beating, but police are awaiting autopsy results from the Medical Examiner's Office for an official cause.

Police officers injured

Two police officers were treated for neck and shoulder pain after their cruiser was struck by a civilian vehicle shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday, police said. The accident occurred at Belfield Avenue near East Wister Street in East Germantown while the officers were responding to a call.

The occupants of the civilian vehicle were not hurt.

Historic designation

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission yesterday placed a marker at the 225-year-old mansion called the Solitude, built in 1784 by John Penn, grandson of William Penn. It is now part of the Philadelphia Zoo.

The Solitude was one of the first neo-classical homes built in America. In 1868, Fairmount Park bought The Solitude and the land surrounding it from the Penn family.

Warminster apts. fire

More than a dozen residents were sent to the hospital early yesterday following a fire at the Bucks Landing Apartments in Warminster. It broke out around 5 p.m. All 15 were treated for smoke inhalation at area hospitals and released. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Man, 24, shot to death

Raheem Brittingham, 24, of Camden, was shot multiple times and killed Saturday in a courtyard of the Crestbury Apartments. The shooting came during a fight, police said.

Tipsters are urged to contact investigator Matt Woshnak of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office at 856-225-8400, or Camden Police Detective Vincent Robinson at 856-757-7420.

- Staff and wire reports