Police: Man Stole Jewelry, Cash and Frozen Bacon

An Allegheny County man is accused of burglarizing seven homes, including two in Center Valley, and stealing more than $70,000 worth of jewelry, guns, cash, a safe, laptops and even a box of frozen bacon.  

Jose Luis Torres, 38, of Carnegie, who had been staying at a mobile home in Center Valley, was arraigned Oct. 5 on seven counts of burglary and other charges for break-ins reported in May and June, according to affidavits filed by Upper Saucon Township police. 

Torres had been in Lehigh County Prison since June when he was accused of trying to run down an Allentown police detective who was trying to serve him with a warrant, according to The Morning Call. 

Upper Saucon police say an Allentown man, Erick Del Pilar Medina, helped Torres in four of the burglaries by driving the getaway car and in selling some of the stolen goods in Hamburg, Berks County. Other stolen items were allegedly kept in a garage in Allentown. Police have issued a warrant for Medina’s arrest. 

The burglaries reportedly took place: 

* May 9 at a Center Valley home; jewelry, a laptop, a box of frozen bacon and a safe were taken for a total of $8,116.

* May 20 at an Allentown home; gold and silver jewelry, a Seiko watch and a laptop were taken for a total $25,100.

* May 26 at a Bethlehem home; two laptops, a PlayStation 3, dozens of video games and jewelry were taken for a total of $17,560.

* May 28 at a Hamburg home; foreign currency from six countries, a laptop, silver certificates and jewelry were taken for a total of about $9,000.

* May 29 at a Center Valley home; two flat-screen TVs, jewelry and gift cards were stolen for a total of $7,600.

* May 30 at an Orefield home; a safe with $1,600, wedding rings, nine guns and half a case of beer taken for a total of $4,550.

* June 3 at a Hamburg home; two handguns were stolen. 

A preliminary hearing for Torres scheduled for Monday was continued. 

Upper Saucon police were assisted in the case by Allentown and South Whitehall police.