A report of suspicious activity led to Manheim Township police arresting two men who allegedly stole copper wire Wednesday at a long-time abandoned motel property in the township's north end.
Jeffrey A. Stormfeltz, 30, of 44 Hess Blvd., and Justin R. Flora, 26,of 241 S. Belmont Road, Paradise, were driving away from the property at 3101 Oregon Pike, when police arrived at 12:45 p.m., Sgt. Thomas Rudzinski said.
Police determined that Stormfeltz and Flora had taken copper wire from condemned buildings on the property, the former Shawnee Resort, just north of the Oregon Dairy. The property has been vacant since 1989.
Officer Jason Myers charged each man with trespassing and theft. Flora was released, and Stormfeltz was committed to Lancaster County Prison for violation of probation, police said.
Manheim Township police also are intensifying their efforts to find the suspects responsible for recent burglaries and vehicle lootings in several township neighborhoods.
Police have increased patrols in the Belair, Blossom Hill, Nicholson Square and Bloomingdale developments where the break-ins have occurred the past two weekends.
Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the thieves. Anyone with information is asked to call Manheim Township police at 569-6401 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913.
Elsewhere:
• East Lampeter Township police early today caught a man allegedly stealing gasoline at Garber Scale and Calibration, 1842 William Penn Way.
Michael Nahrgang, 37, of the 800 block of Gail Place, was siphoning gas from one of the firm's work vehicles into a gas can, Officer Douglas Immel said.
Police arrested Nahrgang at 3:14 a.m., charging him with theft by unlawful taking.
• In Adamstown, thieves stole money from two vehicles in the 300 block of Grant Road, East Cocalico Township police said.
Both thefts happened Sunday or Monday. Police said $300 cash was taken from one vehicle and $50 from the other.
• Andrew Borkowski, of Phillip Drive, Kirkwood, was a burglary victim last weekend, Lancaster state police said.
Intruders entered Borkowski's Colerain Township home between 3 p.m. Saturday and 4:30 p.m. Monday and stole jewelry and medication, Trooper Timothy Repp reported.
• Burglars also paid a visit to Cedar Hill Welding, 400 Black Barron Road, Peach Bottom.
A welder, two cordless power wrenches and an industrial-strength battery were stolen from the Fulton Township firm on Tuesday night, Repp said.
• John James Carter, of the 300 block of Conowingo Road, Quarryville, had a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun stolen from his East Drumore Township home between April 27 and Tuesday, state police said.
Lancaster City police are investigating several recent theft crimes including:
• Burglary that happened between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon at an apartment at 742 Columbia Ave. A laptop computer, digital cameras, DVD player and 10 DVDs were among the $2,500 worth of items stolen, police said.
• Daytime burglary Tuesday at an apartment at 5 E. Lemon St. Intruders stole $1,000 cash, about $1,200 worth of women's jewelry, a $500 digital camera, and a $500 PlayStation 2 system between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., police said.
• Burglary between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment in the 600 block of North Queen Street. An $1,100 laptop computer was stolen, police said.
• Burglary that happened last weekend at a construction facility at 20 E. Vine St., near the site of the downtown convention center. Various tools, including a $825 rotary hammer, were stolen between Friday afternoon and Tuesday morning, police said.
• Attempted robbery of two males early Tuesday morning in the 400 block of West Lemon Street. The victims said two males who were about 18 to 20 years old and wore dark-colored clothing tried to rob them at about 12:35 a.m.
• A robbery that reportedly happened shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday in the first block of South Ann Street. A 41-year-old man had his bicycle and an ATM card stolen by an unknown suspect, police said.
Staff writer John M. Hoober III can be reached at jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027. 