Emmaus Police Charge Pair with Vehicle Break-ins

Emmaus police struck a victory Sunday in a fight against vehicle break-ins throughout the Valley with two arrests.

Police said they arrested a pair from Palmerton breaking into vehicles at 2:24 a.m. in the 100 block of Elm Street. One was an adult and the other a juvenile.

Anthony Lee Ritton, 20, of 60 Margaret St., was found with stolen items including credit cards and was under the influence of alcohol, police said. He was charged with attempted theft from a vehicle, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and underage drinking. He was processed and committed to Lehigh County Prison.

A 17-year-old boy has charges pending with Lehigh County Juvenile Probation and was released to a parent, police said.

The type of petty theft generally is difficult to stop. Police generally say the best defense is parking the car in a garage, locking it if it must be left outside and parking it in a well-lighted area when possible.

In other borough police incidents:

Crimimal mischief: Reported April 8 at Schiller-Pfeiffer, 301 S. Fourth St.; four windows broken and a drain pipe damaged in the lot; $400 estimated damage.

Arrested: Ann Marie Wieder, 32, of 215 Ridge St., Emmaus; April 7 with driving under the influence at Fifth and Minor streets; processed at the Lehigh County DUI Center and released.

In recent Upper Milford Township police incidents:

Burglary: Reported April 2 by Ginnielee Henry, 63, of Hale Lane; residence entered by forcing open rear door, and photo albums and jewelry removed between March 31 and April 2; no estimated value given.

Institutional vandalism: Reported April 8 at St. Peter's Union Church, 7800 block St. Peter's Road; 40-by-8-foot portable sign damaged overnight with black spray paint; $200 estimated damage.