Northeast Philadelphia’s suspected beer distributor burglar has landed behind bars.
A patrol officer captured 44-year-old Daniel Haggard on Aug. 17 as the alleged bandit exited a SEPTA bus at the Frankford Terminal after a pre-dawn break-in at a CVS store in the Far Northeast during which he allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes.
Haggard is suspected of committing three burglaries and a bread-truck theft in the Northeast, along with at least two burglaries in nearby Bensalem Township and another in Lower Southampton Township, all within a span of several weeks, according to Sgt. Dennis Rosenbaum of Northeast Detectives.
The suspect twice targeted beer distributors in the Northeast, using bricks to smash their windows and enter the commercial properties after business hours, police said earlier last month.
The latest crime occurred Aug. 17 when Haggard allegedly broke into a CVS at 9875 Bustleton Ave. and stole a bundle of cigarette packs. As he fled the store, he toted the smokes in a trash bag and jumped into a nearby bread truck that a delivery driver had left unattended, Rosenbaum said.
Haggard soon ditched the truck, however, and boarded a SEPTA bus that he rode to Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. But as he exited that bus and boarded another bound for the SEPTA terminal at Bridge Street and Frankford Avenue, a uniformed police officer saw Haggard and became suspicious of the cigarette-filled trash bag he was carrying.
The officer followed the bus to the public transportation hub, questioned Haggard and arrested him.
According to court records, criminal charges are pending against Haggard, who is being held in Bucks County Prison.
Philadelphia detectives believe that Haggard burglarized Krewstown Beverage, at 8900 Krewstown Road, on Aug. 2 and stole a large amount of cigarettes. He allegedly also broke into Pennypack Beer Distributor, at 8120 Roosevelt Blvd., on Aug. 8 and stole a wad of lottery tickets and $150 cash.
Haggard turned 45 on Aug. 31 and was a Northeast Philly resident years ago, Rosenbaum said, but his current residence is unknown. Court records show that he has at least three prior burglary convictions in Philadelphia and Bucks County, dating back to 1993. ••
