Mall security,shoppers help capture burglar www.privateofficer.com
Michael Fontanez, 45, of Allentown, was wanted by Bethlehem police and Lehigh County law enforcement officials for a string of alleged burglaries stretching from early October to this week.
Bethlehem Detective Sgt. William Dosedlo said Fontanez was spotted while shopping at the mall. An employee at a watch kiosk recognized Fontanez from pictures he saw in local newspapers and reported Fontanez to mall security. Dosedlo said that as Fontanez roamed the mall, followed by security, other people called to report that they also recognized him from pictures seen in local media outlets.
Fontanez was arrested by Whitehall Township police and sent to Lehigh County Prison on an open bench warrant, Dosedlo said. Police allege Fontanez had heroin on him at the time of his arrest.
According to court papers, Fontanez worked with Tina Marie Johns — who pleaded guilty to her part of a series of burglaries earlier this year — to break into area homes and steal electronics, cash, and in one case, a handgun.
Fontanez faces additional charges, Dosedlo said, including an alleged burglary on Monday of a home in the 2000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
