Crime & Safety

Drug Addiction May Have Fueled Hatboro Burglaries

An admitted heroin addict pleaded guilty to a half dozen burglaries, which occurred last Valentine's Day.

The man accused of six "brazen" last February has pleaded guilty to burglarizing Hatboro and Upper Moreland residences and stealing items he could pawn for money to feed his drug addiction.

Gerald F. Sutliff, 30, who is currently being held in the county prison without bail, last week entered an open guilty plea to six felony burglary charges, according to an article.

Sutliff, who has no fixed address, resided prior to his incarceration, in both Philadelphia and Warminster, police said. 

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Sentencing has been postponed until the judge receives a background report on Sutliff from the adult probation office. He could do a maximum of 60 to 120 years for the burglaries.

Sutliff was arrested on Feb. 16 following a joint investigation between Hatboro and Upper Moreland police, which included surveilance of a subject that fit the description of an individual that was reported by witnesses to have been in the area of the burglarized homes on Feb. 14. The individual was reportedly pulling a suitcase on the day of the burglaries and someone matching the description, who was also pulling a suitcase, was located in the same area the day the arrest was made, on Feb. 16.

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

Police officers from both departments watched as the male subject moved throughout residential neighborhoods in the northeast section of Hatboro and along County Line Road in Upper Moreland and observed the subject knocking on doors. Upon receiving no response the subject tried to enter the homes.

Sutliff was arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass in connection with the residential burglaries. 


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