“Dogged determination solved burglaries”

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 07:45 AM PDT

West Manheim sergeant commended for closing tough case.

Despite little more than hunches and guesses to go on, a West Manheim Township police sergeant managed to bring to a close a case where more than $45,000 in jewelry and cash was stolen from eight homes.

Police Sgt. Toby Wildasin was honored at a recent township supervisors meeting with a plaque of commendation for a job well done.

Chief Tim Hippensteel said Wildasin's investigative skills led to solving the burglaries that took place in the township between May and September 2009.

Some of the homes were struck more than once, police said.

It quickly became apparent the criminal was careful not to disturb the homes or leave any evidence behind, Hippensteel said. Police reports said the suspect entered through unlocked doors and garages.

"With no physical evidence at any of the scenes, investigators had nothing more than hunches and determination to work with," Hippensteel said.

Wildasin was undaunted despite the lack of clues and took the role of lead investigator.

Over a period of about 10 months, he searched records of several pawn and jewelry stores in both Pennsylvania and Maryland, discovering hundreds of pieces of stolen jewelry pawned by one man. The pawn shop required photograph identification for transactions.

Wildasin interviewed the suspect and obtained a confession to the crimes, Hippensteel said.

The culprit Geoffrey Matthew Leeper, 24, of 61 Knollwood Lane, plead guilty in York County court June 4 in connection with all eight

burglaries and was sentenced to two to four years in state prison and 10 years probation.

"Were it not for Sgt. Wildasin's determination and investigative skills these crimes would have gone unsolved and no doubt additional burglaries would have occurred," Hippensteel said.

Supervisor Board Chairman Harold Hartlaub had nothing but compliments."We are all very proud of our police sergeant, our police chief and our entire police department," he said.

In other news, the supervisors also offered their thanks to code enforcement officer Harold Coldren, who recently retired after working for West Manheim for 20 years. The board presented Coldren with a commemorative clock fitted with a plaque of appreciation.

The board also approved appointing Heather Neiderer as the code enforcement officer to replace Coldren. Neiderer has been the township's code administrative assistant for the last several years.

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