Burglar Tries to Trap Resident in Bathroom During Break-In, Police Say

A Huntingdon Valley resident reported a burglary to her home around 2:45 p.m. on the 170 block of Clearview Ave on Sunday, Feb. 10. The resident stated that she heard a knock on the front door, but nobody was there when she answered it. As she turned her around, she saw a male enter through the side door and began walking toward her in the kitchen. The male stated his name Joe Patino and told her he was Italian. According to the report, he was in his 30’s, about 5’10”, black hair, and no facial hair.

The resident asked him what he was doing in her home, and the male responded he was with the Water Department and was checking for water contamination. He stated he was doing work outside the home and they struck a pipe and possibly contaminated her water. The suspect turned on the kitchen sink faucet and instructed the resident to sit on the bathroom toilet and see if the water turned green. According to the report, the suspect tried several times to close the bathroom door on the resident. She told him to leave the door open and then the male began to walk in her bedroom and open her dresser drawers. The male then began to place items in a white cloth bag or pillowcase. She asked the male for identification and he said he would have to get it from his car. He told her to meet in the dining room, but the man never returned.

Police arrived and found the kitchen sink faucet running. Police saw two open metal boxes in the bedroom, one of which was pried open and left on the bed. A total of 11 drawers were emptied from a jewelry box. Jewelry boxes were ransacked in other bedrooms as well. Police also discovered the side door had been forced open by the suspect.

The following items were reported as stolen:

• $50 in currency and unknown amount in loose change
• Costume jewelry totaling $300