By JOHN M. HOOBER III, Staff
Just days after a Lancaster judge sent a young man to state prison for his role in robbing Amish buggy riders, armed bandits targeted a buggy driver in the Gap area.
Reuben P. Stoltzfus, of Sadsbury Township, was the victim of an attempted robbery late Monday night, Lancaster state police said.
Stoltzfus was operating a buggy in the 700 block of Country Lane, west of Gap in Sadsbury Township, when three adult males jumped out of a car and tried to rob him, Trooper William J. Colvin said.
One of the men wore a black ski mask and held a gun, police were told.
Police did not say if the men stole anything from the victim or if he was hurt.
The incident happened between 10:20 and 10:35 p.m. Monday. Police were told the bandits were in a black "sporty-looking" sedan. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Lancaster state police at 299-7650 or Lancaster City/County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-322-1913.
On Friday, Charles J. Lewis, 19, of Rising Sun., Md., received a 11-w- to 5-year prison sentence for helping his 17-year-old cousin rob occupants of two buggies in Fulton and East Drumore townships..
Sentencing Judge Jeffery D. Wright lashed out at Lewis, calling the robberies "deliberate attacks on members of the Amish community."
"You knew they wouldn't fight back. You're not just a thief, you are a cowardly thief," the judge told the Maryland man.
Lancaster troopers also are seeking thieves in several other crimes, including:
• A Saturday afternoon burglary at the Strasburg Toy Store, 350 Hartman Bridge Road (Route 896) in Strasburg Township.
Unknown burglars entered the office of the store between 4:15 and 5:45 p.m. and removed about $5,000 in cash and checks, Trooper Timothy Repp said.
• A house burglary last weekend in Little Britain Township.
Burglars broke into the home of Brett and Brenda Jarvis, 100 block of Jubilee Road, Peach Bottom, and stole a large variety of electronic items, Trooper Anthony L. Holloway reported.
Thieves also:
• Stole more than 4,000 pounds of rebar (metal used to strengthen concrete) from properties on Steinmetz Road and Leisey Road in West Cocalico Township.
The metal was stolen between Thursday and Sunday, and the total loss is about $360, East Cocalico Township police said.
• Stole two full boxes of fishing tackle Saturday afternoon from a vehicle parked on Old Rohrerstown Road at Dairy Road, near the Little Conestoga Creek.
The victim was Vasilios Kalargyros, Lancaster, and the loss was $400, East Hempfield Township police said.
• Stole 1,000 gallons of driveway sealer from a truck parked in a storage area in the 2500 block of Horseshoe Road in Upper Leacock Township.
The theft was reported Thursday morning, and the loss is $1,000. Police said the sealer was in a 3,000 gallon-capacity container in a truck that belongs to Steve Brossman, Leola, who operates a driveway sealing business.
• Forcibly entered a home in the 100 block of North Clay Road in Clay Township and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. The burglary happened during daytime hours on Thursday, township police said.
Staff writer John M. Hoober III can be reached at jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027.
