SHOHOLA, PA — Despite the Shohola area being on high alert due to the ongoing spree of car and house burglaries over the summer, the thief continues his spree and he has hit at least three more cars over the Labor Day weekend. These three were the only ones reported. Neighbors say it is likely he broke into other homes where there was no cash found or the owners have yet to discover their loss.

On the evening of August 28, a Pennsylvania State Police car was seen driving up and down Handsome Eddy very slowly with his searchlights on. The officer said that the alarm at the now-defunct restaurant formerly known as Vintons, and now a private residence, had been activated and he had been dispatched to investigate. Despite his efforts, no one was located, although it seems possible that this was the thief attempting to hit a home known to be unoccupied.

On the night of Saturday, August 30, the thief stole cash from two more unlocked cars in the area. One home was located on State Route 434 not far from the Shohola firehouse, and the other on a quiet road off Lackawaxen Road. Neither resident noticed that anything was wrong until they became aware of the missing cash.

At 3:30 a.m. on September 1, a resident of Kara Lane, in the Culvert Hill area, interrupted the burglar in progress. Matching a previous description of the thief, the victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, described the burglar as tall, thin and dressed in black. He was also said to be wearing a ski mask.

State police were called and response time was one-and-a-half hours. This was considered unacceptable by some Shohola residents. The Shohola Township Police Department has been trying to end the burglary spree, but the break-ins occur in the extreme early hours of the morning when state police are responsible for answering calls. Residents have called for beefed-up patrols of the area neighborhood.

Residents of the area are encouraged to keep car doors locked at all times and to keep no cash in the cars. Houses should also be kept locked when unoccupied and during the night. Shohola Police ask that tips be reported to them at 570/559-7359 or 570/296-7700.

Police say details that may seem unimportant may help police eventually learn the identity of the individual committing the break-ins.

Police also say that it is not known if the thief carries a weapon, but residents should consider him to be armed and dangerous.