Crime & Safety

Police: Burglars Used Stolen Checks, Credit Card to Buy Drugs

Also, Maple Shade Police investigate a vehicle theft that ended with a stripped-down car in Camden.

Two Maple Shade men stole checks and a credit card from a township home and used them to buy heroin and other items, according to police. 

Maple Shade Police said William F. Clifford, 25, and Matthew R. Schafer, 25, entered a residence at Valley Glen Condominiums on March 19 and stole a credit card and bank checks. On March 23, Schafer cashed a check for $200, forging both sides, and split the money with Clifford to buy Camden in heroin, according to police. Both men also used the credit card around Maple Shade and Cherry Hill to purchase gift cards and other miscellaneous items totaling about $500.

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Schafer was arrested on March 25 and placed in Burlington County Jail. Clifford was arrested on some of his charges on March 26 and placed in jail, but was released after posting bail, police said. Clifford was then arrested on the remaining charges on March 27 and placed in Burlington County Jail.

Schafer was charged with the following: forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, theft by deception, fraudulent use of a credit card, credit card theft, false impersonation and conspiracy to commit fraudulent use of a credit card. Bail was set at $20,000.

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Clifford was charged with the following: conspiracy to commit forgery, burglary,  theft by deception, fraudulent use of a credit card, credit card theft, false impersonation and conspiracy to commit fraudulent use of a credit card. Bail was at $120,000.

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In other Maple Shade Police news:

March 16

Criminal mischief, 10:12 p.m. — Police said someone smashed the driver’s side window of a red Chevy Cobalt parked on the 100 block of South Maple Avenue, and also broke the door handle. No items were reported stolen from inside the car.

March 19

Vehicle theft, 8:53 a.m. — Someone stole a red 1996 Honda Accord from Evergreen Circle, according to police. Later in the day, Camden City Police found the vehicle missing three tires and the car had been stripped of parts.

Theft — Someone stole four tires and rims off a 2010 Ford Explorer at Holman Enterprises on Old Kings Highway, police said. Representatives of Holman told police someone switched out the vehicle’s 20-inch factory rims and tires with 16-inch rims and tires, though they were unsure when exactly the switch took place. The vehicle had been sent to a detail shop on March 14-15, but it wasn’t clear if the switch occurred then or not.

Information provided by Maple Shade Police. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.


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