Upper Moreland Officers Honored For Stopping Burglary At Construction Site

UPPER MORELAND, PA — A team of local police officers were honored this week for their actions in late March when they stopped a burglary in progress at an old church building in the township.

The officers, who were honored by Police Chief Andrew Block during the township board of commissioners meeting Monday, had been called to investigate two suspicious males at the Peniel Presbyterian Church building at 301 Woodlawn Avenue back on March 30 just before 7 p.m., according to the Upper Moreland Township Police Benevolent Association.

The building is abandoned and slated for demolition, and nobody is currently allowed to be on the property.

The officers who responded said that the burglars were in the process of stealing copper that was still inside the building.

Those arrested were Rufino Urizar-Beteta and Christian Hernandez-Soto. Each were charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and possessing an instrument of crime, according to police.

Chief block presented the officers this week with a unit citation for their apprehension of the suspects.

Court records show that preliminary hearings have been scheduled for June.