LAKE TOWNSHIP, PA — Three individuals have been arrested for a burglary that took place at a Dollar General in Lake Township at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3. The arrests followed a string of related burglaries in the area over the previous nights. 

According to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kelly Todd, a neighbor noticed suspicious activity at the Dollar General Tuesday morning and called the state police. The neighbor saw two males attempt to gain entry to the building. There was a silver van associated with the suspicious activity.

Police were able to locate the van which was occupied by Luis Morel Caraballo, 24, from Hazelton, Menerson Rafael Hidaldo-Peralta, 21, from Scranton, and Branly Alberto Peguero-Blanco, 25, from Scranton.

“Items in plain view included a blue pry bar, a sledge hammer, a yellow pry bar with fresh shards of glass, a roll of nickels and clothing matching the description of the clothing being worn by one of the suspicious individuals seen outside the Dollar General Store in Lake Ariel,” according to a press release.

The rear door of the Dollar General had pry bar marks with fresh blue paint scuff marks. A glass door was partially smashed.

At 1:24 a.m. the previous morning, a burglary occurred at John’s Italian Restaurant in Salem Township where $850 was stolen. Money in similar denominations as the money stolen from John’s Italian Restaurant was found on one of the three suspects.

Three burglaries occurred in Lackawanna County the previous morning. Those burglaries were reportedly committed by three individuals driving a silver minivan.

All three men were arrested for burglary, criminal trespass, possessing instruments of crime and criminal mischief. Bail has been set at $50,000 each.