Crime & Safety

Would-be Burglar Arrested in Abington, Police Say



Abington Police arrested a man late last month who they said attempted to enter a home on Eckard Avenue.

John Gibson, 45, of West Apsley Street, Philadelphia, was arrested Aug. 31 after a caller reported that a man was going through a neighbor's mailbox in the 1800 block of Eckard Avenue.

According to police, the witness said that she saw the man, later identified as Gibson, approach the house, ring the doorbell and look through the mail in the mailbox. The witness also said that Gibson attempted to open the front door of the home.

Gibson also ran his hand around the screen of a window of the house and disconnected the screen from the window, according to police. The screen was found to have been popped off and resting beneath the window of the front porch, police said.

He was later arrested at the corner of Old York Road and Guernsey Avenue; he did not give a reason for looking at the mail and said he did not know the owner of the house, police said.

Gibson was charged with criminal attempt-burglary and criminal attempt-trespass — both felonies. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 2:45 p.m. in front of District Judge John Kessler.

He does not appear to have a criminal history in Pennsylvania.

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