'Numerous' Looting Arrests In Bensalem Sunday

BENSALEM, PA — Bensalem Police made "numerous" arrests Sunday evening as people tried to loot several locations, according to authorities.

On Sunday, unrest in Philadelphia that followed protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, spread from Center City into the northern part of the city, leading Bucks County authorities to go on high alert.

Monday morning, Bensalem Township Police said there were attempts to loot various locations in the township.

"All attempts were stopped and numerous arrests were made," police said in a social media post.

At least one of those arrests came when people tried to break into the Sears at Neshaminy Mall, according to published reports.

Sunday night, Bensalem Police issued a social media warning for residents to remain calm and stay in their homes "so that officers can best and most effectively do their job of keeping Bensalem safe."

A computer glitch caused that message to show up on Monday morning for many on Facebook, leading to some initial confusion.

Monday's follow-up made it clear there was not active unrest in Bensalem.

"Rest assured that the Bensalem Township Police Department will continue to do everything in our power to protect the community that we love," the post said.

In Bucks County, organizers were calling for multiple peaceful protests of police violence in the wake of Floyd's killing on Monday. A protest was planned for 1 p.m. in Doylestown and for Tuesday evening in Warminster.

Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie said in an online town hall meeting on Monday that there had been "random acts of vandalism in a few areas in Bucks County" on Sunday, while there also were peaceful protests in Levittown and elsewhere.

"There were peaceful protests in cities and localities all across America," Harvie said. "Protesters kneeled with police officers, with elected officials, praying that our country can overcome these problems. And, if we work together, we can do that, just like we can work together to defeat this virus."