Cops: Croydon Man Has GF’s Daughter Hold Flashlight During Bensalem Burglary

A Croydon man, according to police, had the brilliant idea of bringing his girlfriends 11 year-old daughter with him on a burglary that occurred in Bensalem Township on Wednesday at commercial office building on Tremont Avenue.

James Harkless-Dechellis, 41, was preliminarily arraigned by District Judge Joseph Falcone felony burglary offenses and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors and remanded to the custody of Bucks County Jail as he was unable the 10 percent of $150,000.00 bail.

According to Bensalem Police on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at approximately 12:29 p.m., officers were dispatched   to a report of a burglary in progress at a commercial office building located on the 3100 block of Tremont Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers observed that a side glass door to the building had been shattered and forced open.

While conducting a search of the property, officers heard noises from inside the building and located  Harkless-Dechellis, 41,  in a rear equipment room, actively cutting and removing copper wiring, with a young girl standing next to him holding a flashlight, court papers show.

Harkless-Dechellis, was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators also recovered numerous tools and containers filled with previously cut wire from inside the building.

According to police, Harkless-Dechellis  admitted to entering the building with the intent to steal copper wire for resale during an interview.

He is due back in court on June 10 and has no attorney of record according to online court records and he has a lengthy arrest/conviction record in Bucks County dating back to 2009.