Burglars Steal Food, Puppy, TV From Family: Cops

A mother and her two sons woke up to find their puppy gone. Burglars also swiped their TV, food and party favors for her son's birthday party

A Northeast Philadelphia family was burglarized twice-- two weekends in a row.

The most recent burglary happened sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning at their home on the 4700 block of Princeton Avenue in Tacony. Rachel Schortye tells NBC10 the burglars got through a screen on her porch.

When they woke up, there was a lot missing from their home, including their beloved puppy. The burglars also made off with a 52-inch flat screen TV that was on the wall, food, winter clothes, and party favors that were set aside for her 8-year-old son's birthday party planned for Sunday afternoon.

"They took my dog, she's only 3-months old," said Schortye.

Schortye and her family believe their pet, Miss Piggy, was snatched right from her cage. The family also found a Halloween "Scream" mask inside the house though police don't know if it was left behind by the burglar.

Schortye says this is the second time in a week this happened. Last Monday morning, burglars entered her home through the front door, which was unlocked, and stole all the food from her refrigerator, according to Schortye.

"The TV was a gift for them," said Schortye while in tears. "I don't have the money to replace this stuff."

Police tell NBC10 that there have been similar burglaries reported in the same neighborhood.

Flossie Ervin, who lives two blocks away, told NBC10 she was hospitalized when a burglar broke through the back window of her home back on October 7.

"They took a collection of old coins that I had for 50 years," said Ervin. 

A resident of another home in the neighborhood told NBC10 a neighbor scared an intruder away back on October 8.

Police say the common factor in all of the recent burglaries is the fact that the person either cut or lifted the screen then raised an unlocked window to get inside.

No arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate.

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