The Manheim Borough Police Department began investigating a series of burglaries that began on 09/28/12 and continued through 09/13/13:
- 4000 block of Green Park Drive Mount Joy. The VICTIM reported that unknown suspects had entered his home and stole $2,300 worth of U.S. currency and valuables.
- 4300 block Green Park Drive Mount Joy for a burglary report. The VICTIM reported that unknown suspects had entered her home and stole $80,000 worth jewelry.
- 3400 block of Green Leaf Drive Mount Joy. The VICTIM reported that unknown suspects had entered her home and stole $56,550 worth of jewelry.
- 4300 block of Green Park Drive for a burglary report. The VICTIM reported an additional burglary that included the above jewelry amounts (from the $80.000 theft).
- 4100 block of Green Park Drive Mount Joy. The VICTIM reported $8,309 in jewelry was stolen from his residence.
- 2100 block of Weeping Willow Lane for a burglary report. The VICTIM reported $5,575 worth of jewelry stolen.
- 2100 block of Weeping Willow Lane also reported thefts that occurred on two different occasions.
Total loss amount: $152,684
Through an investigation, the two suspects, Eberly and Lumley were identified as “pawning” large amounts of jewelry. The jewelry matched some of the items stolen in the reported burglaries and some of the jewelry was identified by the VICTIMs.
The suspects also had ties to the locations of the burglaries because they did landscaping or odd jobs for all of the VICTIMs. Many of the VICTIMS reported that the two suspects would approach them and offer their landscaping services by handing out flyers in the neighborhood. Once familiar with the residents and their patterns of behavior they burglarized them when they were not home.
Once in custody, both Eberly and Lumley admitted to their roles in the burglaries. The couple additionally admitted to a residential burglary in Mt. Joy Borough to police investigators.
Both reported having issues with drug use and needing money for those addictions.
“This particular couple committed 8 residential burglaries against people that entrusted them with working around their home. They stole a total of $152,684 dollars from the victims and most likely received pennies on the dollar for the loot and used it for drugs.
Drugs continue to be a cancer in our society and drive many crimes including our most recent experiences with multiple residential burglaries.
If you have had these two individuals at your home doing work I would take an inventory of your valuables.
Detective Jeffrey Kiesel is lead on this case if you have any information please contact him at 717-665-2481“ (Chief Stauffer quotes)
