NJ Man Charged in Series of Distraction Burglaries in Abington and Philadelphia
by Dan Doyle | July 27, 2025
ABINGTON, PA — A New Jersey man is facing burglary charges in Montgomery County following a pair of distraction-style home burglaries, including one in Abington Township that involved an elderly resident being lured outside while another suspect ransacked her home.
On April 8, 2025, Abington Police responded to a home on the 1600 block of Pennypack Road after the homeowner reported that a man approached her offering to do tree work at a discounted rate. The man walked her to the backyard, speaking with her for about 20 minutes and appearing to converse with someone on the phone during that time. Once he left abruptly, the resident returned indoors to find that cash and jewelry had been stolen from an upstairs bedroom.
Investigators say the man intentionally distracted the resident while an accomplice entered the home undetected and committed the burglary.
Following an investigation involving Abington and Philadelphia Police, as well as the Montgomery County and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Offices, detectives identified one of the suspects as Ephraim Frank, of Runnemede, New Jersey.
Frank was also charged in connection with a similar burglary that occurred on March 28, 2025, in the 11000 block of Knights Road in Philadelphia. Authorities say both crimes followed the same pattern of distraction and deception.
Frank was arrested in New Jersey and extradited to Montgomery County, where he was arraigned on two counts of burglary and related offenses. On July 17, 2025, his bail was set at $50,000, and he is currently being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify the second suspect involved in the April 8 burglary.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Robert Hill at (267) 536-1101 or rh*****@********pa.gov.
Note: Criminal charges, and any reporting thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.