Crime & Safety

Pair Stole $130K From Tredyffrin Tech Company: Police

A Delaware County woman is accused of stealing from her employer, then using the money with a Delco man on personal purchases, police said.

Maureen Custer, 40, and Thomas Higgins, 35, both of Swarthmore.
Maureen Custer, 40, and Thomas Higgins, 35, both of Swarthmore. (Tredyffrin Township Police)

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA — Authorities in Tredyffrin Township have charged a Delaware County pair after they said the two used illegally obtained corporate credit cards for personal purchases.

Maureen Custer, 40, and Thomas Higgins, 35, both of Swarthmore, are charged with dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy, access device fraud, unauthorized use of a credit card, identity theft, forgery, and other theft-related offenses.

Tredyffrin Township Police started investigating the two in June this year.

Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

According to authorities, the owner of a Tredyffrin-based technology company reported suspected internal theft to police.

Investigators determined that an employee, later identified as Custer, used her position in the company to obtain two corporate credit cards unlawfully, police said.

Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

From November 2024 to June 2025, Custer and Higgins used the cards for personal purchases, according to police. This included food deliveries and Amazon orders, authorities said.

Detectives also found evidence showing Custer transferred funds from the company’s business account to conceal unauthorized expenditures, nearly driving the company into bankruptcy, according to police.

Custer and Higgins were taken into custody Thursday and released on $150,000 unsecured bail.

The two are scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings on Dec. 18, court records show.

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