Norristown, PA - Man Steals Police Car- Crashes - Then Steals Snowplow  - Crashes again

Cops: Man allegedly steals two cars
By: DAN KELLEY , Times Herald Staff

NORRISTOWN - A man allegedly stole a police car, and later returned it to allegedly steal a public works vehicle. The man got into at least two collisions during the adventure, according to police reports.
 


Peter Frisco, 43, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and fleeing and attempting to elude, Saturday according to court documents.
Chief of Police Russell Bono confirmed that the police cruiser was left running, but declined further comment because the matter was a personnel issue.
"We are certainly going to perform a complete investigation into this matter," Bono said.
Municipal Administrator Paul Janssen said that workers traditionally left keys in vehicles over the weekend in case an emergency erupted that required an employee to quickly get access to a vehicle. He said borough employees felt secure in the practice because the lot is under video surveillace.
"We've been very clear that the practice doesn't continue," Janssen said.
The police car was left running, with keys in it as a police officer processed a prisoner. The theft of the vehicle was discovered when the officer, heard the sirens on the vehicle.
He ran outside and secured the cruiser and reviewed video tape of the parking lot. The tape showed a man enter the police department at approximately 2:45 a.m. The man, later identified as Frisco, spoke to a police officer and left.
Frisco was allegedly seen on tape taking the cruiser, returning approximately 15 minutes later. Officers later discovered "fresh accident damage" on the vehicle.
At approximately 3 a.m., Frisco returned the police cruiser and found a borough pickup truck, with a snow plow attached and the keys in it.
At 3:30 a.m., a security officer at the Montgomery County Court House saw the truck slam into a 1988 Lincoln Continental, pushing the vehicle into Swede Street.
At 3:52 a.m., police responded to an accident on the 700 block of E. Moore Street. There, Frisco's neighbor told police that he saw him driving a large white pickup truck.
Police pulled over a vehicle fitting the description a short time later. As they were doing so, Frisco drove by in the public works vehicle.
The police officer recognized Frisco as someone that had been eyeing the Lincoln earlier in the evening.
Officers followed Frisco, who drove at "a slow rate of speed," according to court documents, back to borough hall on the 200 block of E. Airy Street. There, Frisco exited the vehicle with his hands up and surrendered to police.
The officer may face some disciplinary action in the matter, pending an investigation.

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