Philly man charged in 100 suburban, city burglaries
A North Philadelphia man has been charged with burglarizing into more than 100 suburban homes close to SEPTA train stations over a year, authorities announced Friday.
A North Philadelphia man has been charged with burglarizing into more than 100 city and suburban homes close to SEPTA train stations over a year, authorities announced Friday.
Officials said Larry Rafiq Samuels, 38, of 2700 W. Glenwood St., often struck while his victims were home and sometimes helped himself to food and drink while gathering his loot.
Investigators used Apple applications that track stolen computers to find him, officials said.
Samuel has been charged with multiple counts of burglary, attempted burglary, criminal conspiracy, trespass and other related crimes.
Samuels was arraigned on July 7 and remains jailed with bail set at $1 million. At a preliminary hearing held Thursday he was bound over for trial on all charges.
According to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Samuels burglarized the homes in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties as well as Philadelphia between Aug. 31, 2014, and July 3, 2015.
Cash, small electronics, cell phones, and computers were the most frequently stolen objects. Entry into the homes, all near SEPTA Regional Rail stops, was often made through unlocked windows or doors. In total, victims reported about $200,000 in loses.
Using Apple applications to track stolen computers, police found a common address. They installed surveillance cameras on a telephone pole outside the location in the 1800 block of Hart Lane in Philadelphia's Kensington section.
A break in the case came on July 19, 2015, as Cheltenham Police investigated four overnight robberies within a half mile of the Elkins Park train station.
Samuels was captured on video as he went through the rooms of one home - including children's bedrooms - while the occupants slept.
Wearing the same cloths, Samuels was then seen walking on Hart Lane within two hours of the Cheltenham burglaries.
A search warrant served on the address found stolen items.
Tony Nguyen, 41, of the Hart Lane address, told police he purchased items such as tools and electronics from people to resell. He admitted to knowing Samuels.
Investigators also found calls from Samuels to Nguyen after the burglaries.
Police then filed a warrant for Samuels in connection with the Cheltenham cases in July 2015 and arrested him that month, the district attorney's office said. He was charged later with the additional crimes.
215-854-4908
@MariSchaefer