Pennsylvania
Thieves cloning key fob signals to steal locked vehicles in Montgomery County, Pa.
UPPER PROVIDENCE TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Police in Montgomery County are searching for thieves accused of using technology to clone the signals of key fobs to unlock and steal several vehicles in Royersford, Pennsylvania.
Action News has been covering similar cases since early last year in different areas of the suburbs from Gulph Mills Upper Merion, to Conshohocken and now in Upper Providence Township.
ALSO SEE: Pa. AG issues warning after Philly group allegedly used cloned key fobs to steal cars
Police said three people seen walking in surveillance video might be responsible for stealing three Hondas during the overnight hours of Wednesday into Thursday morning.
They said it happened in the Royerford area of Roboda Blvd. and Vaughn Rd.
One resident said, “You’d think if you lock your doors, you’re safe but apparently they’re always one step ahead.”
Police said the thieves are targeting modern cars with keyless entry and do not need the actual fob to pull it off.
They stand near someone’s home and use a device that clones the signal of a fob that might be in someone’s entryway, giving the thieves the ability to unlock and start the vehicle.
“It sounds more sophisticated like planned out like people are scoping the place out kind of thing. That’s what it feels like,” another resident said.
Man shares warning after car was stolen without key fob
Upper Providence police said there’s been an increase in these types of thefts.
So far this year six vehicles, mostly Hondas have been stolen in the township, compared to 11 thefts for all of last year, according to police.
“Unfortunately, today with the technology available to criminals, I don’t know if there’s a sure-fire way of ever stopping this however you can use some sort of device to lock the steering wheel,” said Detective Sgt. Patrick Haines.
Haines said you can put your key fobs in a faraday bag or faraday box, which blocks the signal from being detected.
It’s also suggested that you register for any tracking features that come with the car or even place an Apple Air tag in the vehicle to track it if it’s stolen.
Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Pennsylvania
8 Grocery Outlet stores closing in Pa., NJ
Some shoppers across the Philadelphia region may have to change where they get their groceries.
Grocery Outlet announced that it is closing dozens of stores for good soon.
The chain explained that the changes in SNAP benefits are driving away their main customer base.
Eight stores are shutting their doors from Chester County all the way down to Cape May County.
Grocery Outlets closing in New Jersey
- 4004 Route 130, Delran
- 401 Harmony Road, Gibbstown
- 190 Hamilton Commons Drive Mays, Landing
- 3174 Route 9, Suite 5, Rio Grande
- 677 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville
Grocery Outlets closing in Pennsylvania
- 345 Scarlett Road, Kennett Square
- 2017 West Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia
- 2524 Welsh Road, Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Cause determined for plane crash that killed school board president in Chester County
Friday, March 6, 2026 7:13PM
WEST CALN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Investigators have revealed the cause of a plane crash that killed a Chester County school board president two years ago.
The National Transportation Safety Board blamed it on inadequate preflight inspection.
There was a loss of engine power because the fuel was contaminated with water from a recent rainfall, the NTSB said.
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff in West Caln Township on February 1, 2024.
Octorara Area School District School Board President Sam Ganow was killed when a small plane crashed Thursday in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
The pilot, Sam Ganow, was the only one onboard.
He was the Octorara Area School District board president.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania man arrested for allegedly feeding pet parakeet marijuana and beer
A Pennsylvania man was arrested on animal cruelty charges for allegedly feeding marijuana and beer to his pet parakeet after bringing the injured feathered friend to a bar, according to reports.
Timothy Grace, 40, was busted on Feb. 21 after carrying his wounded pet budgie named “Blue Skies” in his pocket to Callaghan’s Bar in Greensburg, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
“The caller’s a bartender. She says there is a white male at the bar with a parakeet,” a dispatcher reported on the police radio transmissions obtained by the outlet.
“The patron was bragging to other people that were inside the bar that he feeds the parakeet marijuana and has it drink beer on a daily basis,” Detective Sergeant Justin Scalzo told the outlet.
Grace “appeared extremely intoxicated” when police showed up to the bar and found the pet bird in distress, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
“Its leg appeared to be broken,” Scalzo said, according to WTAE. “Its foot was actually facing the wrong direction.”
Grave was initially arrested for public intoxication and now faces charges including aggravated cruelty to animals and transporting animals in a cruel manner, the outlet said.
The pet bird was brought to PEARL Parrot Rescue in the Pittsburgh area, which rushed him to an emergency care facility.
Blue Skies spent four days in the hospital and was later taken in to be fostered by Teri Grendzinski, the president of PEARL. The injured parakeet is still breathing hard, remains on antibiotics, and has to wear a splint on his right leg, CBS reported.
“They realized his leg was broken. He also had some respiratory issues going on,” Grendzinski told the outlet. “He was also very, very skinny.”
“The leg was broken badly enough there is a chance they’re going to have to amputate the leg if it doesn’t heal correctly,” she added.
If Blue Skies is eventually put up for adoption, he will require specialized care, the outlet said.
“When we got that call, it was horrifying. Why would you do that to a bird?” Grendzinski said.
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