Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
“Crash & Grab” Thief Charged for Fleeing Dec Car Stop in Lower Makefield
Before the man now known as the ‘crash and grab burglar’ was finally taken into custody by Bensalem authorities last month, Richard Sturts took off from a traffic stop in Lower Makefield Twp, fleeing the area, most likely knowing his days of thieving were coming to an end for sometime to come.
According to police, on Dec. 17, 2025, while on patrol near Big Oak Road and Oxford Valley Road, a LMT Police officer observed a blue Chevrolet Silverado traveling east on Big Oak Rd with heavily tinted front windows. The vehicle turned right onto Oxford Valley Rd and police could not read the license plate due to a tinted cover. Police activated emergency lights and sirens to stop the vehicle on Oxford Valley Rd just before Route 1.
Upon approaching the vehicle, police identified the PA registration, which was reported lost/stolen by Moulton Ladder and Scaffold Company on Dec. 19, according to court records.
As the LMT Police officer reached the rear bumper of the vehicle, Sturts fled the traffic stop rapidly moving south towards Lincoln Highway, police said, as officers deactivated their overhead lights and sirens choosing not to pursue.
According to police, a license plate reader check (LPR) showed the displayed registration matched PennDOT records of a white 2016 Chevrolet pickup truck reported stolen on Dec. 12.
The officer contacted the blue Silverado’s owner, who said she was asleep at the time of the incident. She told police, according to the probable cause, she lives with Sturts in Levittown and he is the only other person with access to the vehicle. She confirmed he regularly drives the pickup.
Sturts was arrested by Bensalem Township Police driving a 2009 blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck registered to a family member on the following day (Dec 18).
Bensalem Police, said in court papers, Sturts allegedly uses different registration plates on the same vehicle.
Sturts is currently scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb 3rd at Morrisville District Court. He was due in Bensalem District Court for the burglary Bob Nolan’s Auto Service, located at 2464 Bristol Pike last month.
Sturts, according to court records, was also wanted by Warrington Township authorities for fleeing and eluding police there too. That case is still pending.
Sturts, according to online court records, has at least 12 theft related convictions dating back to 1989 in Bucks County.
He is currently confined at Bucks County Correctional where he can’t flee from the police, or anyone else for that matter for the time being.
Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
Cops: Motorist Driving “Erratically” on Street Rd Arrested for Fleeing, DUI
A early morning Tuesday fire in Bensalem took the life of one woman and firefighters were able to rescue a man, community sources told Lower Bucks Source.
Bensalem fire companies were dispatched for the reports of a dwelling fire in the 2900 of Bellview Drive at around 2:45 a.m with possible entrapment.
Police officers on scene reported two residents were unaccounted for and believed to be inside. Fire crews initiated an aggressive quick search and attack of the fire, where a male was immediately located by the doorway, Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department, officials said.
The woman killed in the fire was located shortly thereafter, fire officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home, officials said.
An on scene witness said they saw a man was taken to the hospital by Bensalem EMS. His condition is unknown as of publication time.
The identity of the woman killed in the blaze has not been released
The fire caused the closure of Bellview Dr, from Morrow Drive to the entrance of Faust Elementary for several hours.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation of the fire marshal’s office.
“The thoughts and prayers of our entire department go out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy. It’s a sad day for our Nottingham Village families” said Bensalem Volunteer Fire Dept officials.
Cops
Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans
Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.
A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.
Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.
Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.
Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.
Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.
Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.
Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.
Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.
Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.
Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.
Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.
Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.
Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.
Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.
Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.
The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.
Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.
Click here for updates from the National Weather Service
Click here for PECO’s outage map.
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