Car Owner Stabbed After Confronting Auto Thieves Outside Montco Home: Police

CHELTENHAM, PA — A local man suffered serious stab wounds and had to be rushed to the hospital after he confronted a group of thieves attempting to break into his car outside his home this weekend in this eastern Montgomery County community, according to police officials.

The Cheltenham Township Police Department said its officers were dispatched to a home on the 200 block of Grove Avenue in the Cheltenham Village section of the township at around 3 in the morning Saturday after calls came in for a reported stabbing.

Police arrived on scene to find the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds, police said.

The man was taken by EMS to an area trauma center for life-threatening injuries, and he was last listed in critical but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery, according to police.

Police stated that witnesses at the scene said the victim had confronted a group of men who were breaking into his vehicle in front of his residence, and that when the victim confronted the individuals, a struggle ensued, and he was stabbed repeatedly by one of the men.

Police said that the suspects were all wearing ski masks at the time of the encounter, but that during struggle the victim was able to pull off one of the men's masks exposing his face.

That suspect was described as a Hispanic man, between about 5 feet, 5 inches tall to 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing an estimated 170 to 180 pounds, with dark curly hair and wearing glasses.

No description of the other men was offered at this point.

Police said that the suspects fled the scene in a dark colored sedan of unknown make and model.

The Cheltenham Township Police Department is asking local homeowners to check their surveillance systems to see if any images were captured of the suspects, and anyone with additional information to share with the authorities is urged to contact detectives at 215-885-1600 ext. 499 or send an email to policetips@cheltenham-township.org.

The news of the stabbing came at the same time that Cheltenham Police are warning their residents to be vigilant in the wake of increased incidents of thefts from vehicles, many of these incidents now occurring during the daytime hours.

Police said they are continuing to see many thefts from vehicles particularly in the area of the Tookany Parkway area of the township.

Police are reminding residents to not leave valuable items in plain view inside vehicles so as to deter would-be thieves.