Richard Weatherspoon is accused of burglarizing eight Dollar Tree stores in the area beginning in December, netting $15,000 in cash, record say.
View full sizeRichard Weatherspoon A crowd of green-shirted employees were ready to testify today in the case of a man accused of a monthslong Dollar Tree burglary spree across the Lehigh Valley that netted almost $15,000 in cash.
But they didn't have to. Richard Weatherspoon, 42, of the 100 block of North Fourth Street in Allentown, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in central court. He now faces trial in Lehigh County Court unless a guilty plea or other disposition occurs. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 9. He remains in prison in lieu of $250,000.
District Judge Donna Butler thanked the employees for appearing in court, saying if they hadn't the hearing may have gone forward.
"Thank you for your time and commitment," Butler said.
Weatherspoon, shackled and in a prison jumpsuit, said nothing in court besides discussing the case with his attorney and telling a woman in the audience he needed to talk to her. The woman, who confirmed she is related to Weatherspoon, declined to comment.
Lehigh County Assistant District Attorney Christie Bonesch would not say whether Weatherspoon has a prior criminal record or if there have been plea negotiations.
Weatherspoon is accused of burglarizing eight Dollar Tree stores in the area beginning in December. He was eventually caught July 5 only hours after he broke into a Bethlehem Dollar Tree store, court papers say.
Police caught a glimpse of a Jeep Cherokee leaving a Bethlehem store in surveillance video, they stopped a similar looking car with Weatherspoon inside, police said.
Allentown police obtained a search warrant and found tools inside the vehicle that were consistent with the burglaries, court documents say. Inside the Jeep, police reported finding a drill, drill bits, a reciprocating saw, gloves, a crowbar, a hammer and $415 cash, court papers say.Police said during interviews July 5 and July 23 Weatherspoon admitted to the burglaries, attempted burglaries and thefts at the other Dollar Tree stores.
Weatherspoon is charged in the following burglaries, according to court records. In each incident where he entered a store, police said a door was pried open and the safe drilled and sawed open.
- Dec. 21, 2012 - $3,059 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 701 Hanover Ave., Allentown.
- Jan. 26 - $3,582 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 2499 Northampton St., Palmer Township.
- April 9 - $2,803 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 2124 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem.
- April 25 - The front glass broken at the Dollar Tree store at 811 Male Road, Wind Gap.
- May 28 - $2,803 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 2180 MacArthur Road, Whitehall.
- June 24 - $1,000 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 1116 N. Ninth St., Stroudsburg, Pa.
- July 2 - The front door was pried open at the Dollar Tree store at 200 S. Best Ave., Walnutport.
- July 5 - $980 stolen from the Dollar Tree store at 1854 Stefko Blvd. in Bethlehem.