Bethlehem Police Use Horses and Bicycles to Catch Would Be Thieves

We have a long history with the Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit. It started off a bit shaky, but now we are hopeful that they wouldn’t trample us if we met on the street.

Now, some people may say that the horse unit is just for show and / or community relations. And while they do a great job at being showy and community relationsy, they also catch thieves like it was the Wild West!

I really wish I could have watched this take place because, even though we all know this is serious business, you can’t tell me that watching the mounted unit run down a thief wouldn’t be exhilarating!

At 1244 PM on Wednesday July 26th, two juvenile males entered the Moravian Smithy at 425 Main Street.  After asking several questions, one of the males grabbed the cash donation box and both males made for the door.

What the males didn’t know is that while they were in the Smithy, two officers from the Bethlehem Mounted Unit stopped on the south end of Main Street, directly outside of the front door.  When the males exited the front door, they came face to face with Bethlehem’s Mounted officers along with George and Pharoah.  The male carrying the cash box saw the mounted police and turned to hand the stolen cash box back to the blacksmith while stating, “Sorry.”

This is where I envision the horses breathing fire from their nostrils and rearing up with a huge “nayyyyyyyyyyyyyy RAR!” 

The two males immediately fled the area on foot, down the embankment to Johnston Park.  The mounted officers followed in pursuit.  Mounted Officer Mike Leaser, riding George, called the pursuit and police units responded and flooded the area.  Within a minute, at least fifteen Bethlehem Police Officers covered the area from Johnston Park to Sand Island, including Patrol Officers, Mounted Officers, Mountain Bike Officers, plain clothes detectives and members of the command staff.  One of the suspects tried to hide in the Monacacy Creek but could not escape the watchful eyes of the mounted unit.  The foot pursuit continued toward Conestoga Street and ended with a juvenile male being taken into custody by a mountain bike officer and several patrol officers. SOURCE: The Bethlehem Police

Stupid kids, horses can totally see through water! You can’t hide in the creek!

Again though, after yesterday’s violent robbery, we may need these horse police more than ever!

Great job you equine enforcers of the law!

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