Crime & Safety

Popular Bar Owner Killed in Friday Home Invasion

Bar owner Joseph Canazaro identified as victim in fatal home invasion. Suspects believed to have fled in victims' pickup truck; described as armed and dangerous

Update, 4:23 p.m.

The Reporter reports the black pickup truck has been located in upper Bucks County.

The truck has been located behind a restaurant in Quakertown.

Find out what's happening in Upper Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Update, 4:14 p.m.

Chief Chris Engelhart has identified the victim as Joseph Canazaro, 48. Canazaro lived at the Swartley Road home with his girlfriend and two children.

Find out what's happening in Upper Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Canazaro is the co-owner of Finn McCool's Tavern in Ambler.

Canazaro was born and raised in Lansdale, growing up on Franklin Street.

He has owned many businesses in Pennsylvania, and beyond, in his lifetime.

He was the co-owner of Finn McCool’s in Ambler, and still owned the property of the former Finn McCool’s on Penn Street in Hatfield, according to Montgomery County property records.

Canazaro also owned the property of the former Meineke Mufflers on N. Broad Street in Hatfield, now M John’s Automotive, according to property records.

Canazaro was president of JOCANZ Inc., on W. Fifth Street in Lansdale, a brick and stone masonry business. Allied Termite and Pest Control in Lansdale also operated out of the same building, of which Canazaro was principal. Canazaro also owned Masonry Enterprises Inc. in Chalfont, according to Manta.com.

The former Flanigan’s Boathouse in Warrington was also co-owned by Canazaro.

At one time, Canazaro had equity in a pier in Ocean City, NJ.

Canazaro had six bankruptcy hearings in November 2008 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, according to online documents. Various entities had filed liens against Canazaro’s properties, and he was seeking to unfreeze the assets.

These properties, which Canzaro formerly owned, are 2820 Valley Woods Road, Hatfield; 719 Harvest Hill Road, New Britain; 2260 Pileggi Road, Warrington; 2236 Pileggi Road, Warrington, and 201 Signal Hill Court in Northampton Township.

Police in Lehigh, Bucks and Montgomery counties were searching Friday afternoon for two suspects wanted in connection with a fatal home invasion just off Route 309 in Hilltown Township, Bucks County.

One subject was described as male, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, "broad shouldered" and "muscular."

The second was described as a smaller, Asian male wearing a black jacket and cargo pants.

The incident took place at about 10:30am Friday morning.

The men are believed to be in a black 2007 Lincoln pickup truck belonging to one of the victims of the incident.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Upper Saucon