Police Blotter: Thefts in Bryn Mawr, Public Intoxication and Underage Drinking

On Monday afternoon, Lower Merion police reported to news media the following crimes and incidents from the past week:

Retail Theft: Police said a retail theft occurred at the at 9:45 a.m. Sept. 7. A pharmacy employee recognized a man from previous incidents and watched the man take over-the-counter cough and cold medicine and begin to leave the store, police said. The man was confronted by the employee, and the man removed the medication from his pants. Herschel Burak, 32, of the 400 block of Monroe Street in Media was arrested and charged with retail theft, a third degree felony, and with receiving stolen property, a third degree misdemeanor. Burak’s bail was set at 10 percent of $25,000. Burak has been convicted on retail theft charges in the past, according to court records. 

Theft: Two Apple iPhone 4s, valued at $600 each, were stolen from at 12:30 a.m. Sept. 8, police said. The phones, which belonged to Erin Pub employees, were taken while they were sitting on the bar. The theft is under investigation, police said.

Public Intoxication: Police observed a man knocking on the window of at about 2:32 a.m. Sept. 9. Police said the man was unsteady on his feet and detected a strong odor of alcohol upon approaching him. The man was placed under arrest and was found to have a blood-alcohol content of .24 with a preliminary breath test, police said. The man also had several injuries and was transported to for treatment, police said. Christopher Dwyer, 37, of Lake Balboa, CA, was issued a citation for public intoxication at the hospital, police said.

Underage Drinking: Police said they saw two women and a man walking down Prospect Avenue in Bryn Mawr at 10:40 p.m. Sept. 8, and one of the women was carrying a red plastic cup. The cup was found to be empty, and the two women were of legal drinking age but the 20-year-old man, Jordan Meeker, of Potomac, MD, was issued a citation for underage drinking, police said. He was not under the influence that he was a danger to himself, police added.

Public Intoxication: Police were responding to a large party at when they observed a man who was unable to safely walk, police said. Christopher Tripoli, 21, of Potomac, MD, was cited for public intoxication, police said. 

Underage Drinking: Mark Nicoletti, 18, of the 1200 block of Youngs Ford Road in Gladwyne was cited for underage drinking, public intoxication and disorderly conduct about 3:30 a.m. Sept. 10 on Lapsley Lane near St. Joseph's University, police said. Nicoletti cursed officers who asked for his identification, which he refused to provide until after being arrested and held at the police station, police said.