Police: Man Faked Robbery So Parents Wouldn't Get Mad About Missing Cash

A Hatfield Township man, charged with faking a report last week of an armed robbery in Hatfield Borough's Centennial Park, made up the story, police said, so he had a reason to tell his parents why he did not have the $98 he was supposed to have in his possession.

William Graef III, 22, of the 2000 block of Oak Road, faces misdemeanor charges of unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports to law enforcement authorities, at a Feb. 6 preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. before District Judge Kenneth Deatelhauser, police said.

Graef III is free on $10,000 unsecured bail; if Graef III fails to appear at his scheduled hearing, then a warrant will be issued for his arrest and he will be responsible for the $10,000 cash bail.

It was during a second interview with Hatfield Township detectives when Graef III allegedly admitted to making up the story of being robbed at gunpoint under a bridge in the park the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 23, according to the affidavit.

Graef III had called 9-1-1 to report the armed robbery after his mother told him to, as he allegedly told the fake story to her first, according to the affidavit.

On the day of the investigation, Hatfield Township Detective Daniel Tinneny repsonded to Centennial Park for the armed robbery report. Montgomery County Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatch informed Tinneny that Graef III had called and reported he had been the victim of a robbery at gunpoint 10 minutes earlier, according to the affidavit.

No suspect or evidence was discovered at the scene, according to the complaint.

On Jan. 23 at 7:55 p.m., Graef III was interviewed by detectives. Graef III told police that he was walking home from work through the park, when he was grabbed from behind next to the bridge, according to the affidavit.

Graef III told police that the gun was at his back, and he was shoved against the wall, according to the affidavit. The suspect then removed $98 from Graef III's back pocket and a full pack of cigarettes from his front pocket, according to the affidavit.

The gun was described as "a black old World War II 1911 type hangun," according to the affidavit.

Graef III told police that the suspect became distracted by a noise, upon which Graef III kicked the suspect twice in the groin and kicked the gun away after the suspect dropped it, according to the affidavit. The suspect then ran off, Graef told police.

Detectives then interviewed Graef III again on Jan. 25 at 7:10 p.m. because there were doubts in his report, according to the affidavit.

Graef III then allegedly admitted the robbery never took place, according to the affidavit.

When Graef III allegedly told his mother the false story of being robbed, she told him to report it to police, according to the affidavit. Graef III then called 9-1-1 and allegedly made the false report, according to the affidavit.