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Pair arrested in Chesco robbery

A man who police say robbed an elderly Chester County woman, hit her, tied her hands together, and took her medical alert button to prevent her from alerting police was arrested Sunday night with an accomplice in Delaware.

A man who police say robbed an elderly Chester County woman, hit her, tied her hands together, and took her medical alert button to prevent her from alerting police was arrested Sunday night with an accomplice in Delaware.

Leonard Bernard, 36, of Philadelphia, and Brianna Mitchell, 41, of Spring City were found at a hotel in Dover and arrested after police there received a tip. They are being charged with robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and related charges, according to police.

Police said Bernard forced his way into the 76-year-old woman's West Whiteland Township apartment in the Exton Crossing development around 6:20 p.m. Saturday. He threatened to cut the woman, who lives alone, police said.

He took the woman's wedding ring, necklace and watch off of her, according to police. Bernard is accused of then emptying out drawers in various rooms in her home. Police said he knew where the woman kept jewelry.

His accused accomplice, Mitchell, worked until last month for a home health care company the elderly woman used, according to police. Mitchell called the woman an hour or two before the robbery. Police believe she was making sure the woman was at home.

After the robbery, Bernard is accused of smacking the woman, pushing her to the ground, and tying her hands together. Bernard also took a medical alert button she had, police said.

The woman used another medical alert button to call police.

Police believe they recovered all of the stolen jewelry, which is valued at about $10,000.

- Michaelle Bond