Theft

Police are investigating the theft of a woman's purse and the use of her debit card to withdraw money from her account. The Mercersburg Police Department said in a news release someone stole the victim's purse and wallet from her 1993 Ford pickup sometime between Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 14 at 8:45 a.m. The victim told police she thought she had locked the truck, which was parked across from 63 Linden Ave. in the borough. Police said items stolen from the truck were valued at $816.

A former Berkeley County public school teacher was sentenced to five years in prison for multiple identity theft convictions involving one of her children. Rebecca Jean Ferguson, 41, also was ordered to serve 40 years of probation in lieu of a second five-year prison sentence, which was suspended, according to Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely.   Ferguson was ordered by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher C. Wilkes to pay $10,000 in “restorative” restitution to her daughter and more than $10,000 in restitution to credit-card companies, Games-Neely said.

A Sharpsburg man charged this week with raping a woman in November was being held without bail at the Washington County Detention Center. Alexander Scott Walter Sr., 23, of 16727 Sprecher Road, is charged with first- and second-degree rape, first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree sex offenses, two counts of second-degree assault, false imprisonment, theft and malicious destruction of property, according to District Court records. Though the alleged incident occurred Nov. 16, the application for statement of charges was privately filed by the alleged victim on Wednesday, according to court records.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office received reports on the following incidents from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday: A burglary was reported in the 10300 block of Auto Place. Vandalism was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A vehicle was reported stolen in the 14200 block of Marsh Pike. A theft was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A theft was reported in the 17500 block of Taylors Landing Road. A theft from a vehicle was reported in the 21200 block of Twin Springs Drive.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office reported the following incidents from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday: Vandalism was reported in the 17200 block of Carty Lane. A theft was reported in the 13600 block of Crayton Boulevard.

Editor's note: As we usher out 2012 and welcome 2013, The Herald-Mail has prepared a package of year-end stories that provide short recaps of some of the top stories of the year past. These stories will be published each day through New Year's Day. Funny money January 16 - In mid-January, local police started receiving reports of counterfeit money showing up at local businesses, a problem that would persist for months. The fake bills were passed at restaurants and convenience stores.

Mercersburg police are looking to the public to obtain information about a recent theft from a local machine and equipment company. Sometime between Friday, Dec. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 22, two men entered D.L. Martin Inc., at 25 D.L. Martin Drive, and stole a barrel of carbide inserts valued at $2,000, police said. Police are describing the thieves as an older male and a younger male, and they were driving a silver crew cab pickup truck with a cap. Anyone with information may contact the Mercersburg Police Department at 717-328-2221, or Franklin County Crime Solvers at 717-264-3000.

Three men, two of them being held in Franklin County, Pa., have been charged by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in a series of burglaries and thefts. Ashton Lee Frisby, 19, and Devon Lee Frisby, 20, both of 838 W. Washington St., Hagerstown, and 21-year-old William Koreem Becton Hardison, of 308 1/2 Jonathan St., Hagerstown, were charged with four counts each of first-degree burglary and malicious destruction of property; three counts each of fourth-degree burglary and theft; and additional criminal conspiracy counts, police said.

Deputies respond to vandalism, theft reports The Washington County Sheriff's Office reported the following incidents from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday: A burglary was reported in the 13500 block of Sovereign Terrace. Vandalism was reported in the 19100 block of Geeting Road. Vandalism was reported in the 5200 block of Red Hill Road. Vandalism was reported in the 20500 block of Beaver Creek Road. A vehicle was reported stolen in the 11300 block of Dogwood Drive.

A Hagerstown man wanted in the Nov. 15 robbery of the TekFlash computer repair store turned himself in to police and was being held on $125,000 bond Thursday after a bond hearing in Washington County District Court. Lamont Cortez Hardman, 41, of 321 A N. Locust St., is charged with armed robbery, robbery, first- and second-degree assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment and theft under $10,000 in the holdup at the business at 61 1/2 E. Franklin St., according to court records. Hagerstown Police went to TekFlash shortly before noon and interviewed the alleged victim, who said he was working when a man came in and asked him for $125 up front to sell two laptop computers, according to the application for statement of charges.