James Harkless-Dechellis, 41, enlisted his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter before the dubious duo were caught red-handed targeting a commercial office building on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Shortly before 12:30 p.m. on May 27, officers from the Bensalem Police Department were called to investigate a reported burglary-in-progress at the business in the 3100 block of Tremont Avenue.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival, officers found a side glass door that had been shattered and forced open. While searching the property, officers reported hearing noises from inside the building and found\u00a0Harkless-Dechellis in a back room cutting and removing copper wiring.<\/p>\n
The Croydon resident was taken into custody without incident, while officers recovered numerous tools and containers filled with previously cut wire from inside the building.<\/p>\n
Then the investigation took a strange turn.<\/p>\n
According to the department,\u00a0Harkless-Dechellis admitted to entering the building with the intent to steal the copper wiring and resell it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Investigators later learned he had brought his girlfriend’s daughter with him and instructed the 11-year-old to hold a flashlight while he committed the burglary.<\/p>\n
Harkless-Dechellis was charged with:<\/p>\n
Burglary;Corruption of minors;Related offenses.<\/p>\n
He was held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility after he was unable to post bond.<\/p>\n