Suspect in Ridge Pike burglaries arrested

A man identified by Limerick Township police as a suspect in a recent rash of burglaries along Ridge Pike was arrested early Sunday morning, the police department said in a statement this afternoon.

Jeffery Douglass Ridenour, 30, of the 100 block of W. Ridge Pike, was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning after attempting to flee the scene of an alleged burglary on foot, police said.

According to police, Sergeant Ed Ciaciak noticed a smashed glass door panel and the activation of interior lighting at .  Ciaciak had patrolled the location earlier in his shift and found it to be "dark and secure," police said.

Ciaciak placed the building under surveillance and called for additional units to meet him at the location.  Before the other units arrived, however, a man later identified as Ridenour exited the building.  Ciaciak ordered Ridenour to halt, but he instead attempted to flee, police said.

Ciaciak pursued Ridenour on foot and "tackled him a short distance away," police said.  Additional units assisted Ciaciak in placing Ridenour under arrest.

Ridenour, who was found to be in the possession of an undisclosed amount of cash that was taken from the business, has "multiple prior arrests for burglary and related offenses," police said.

According to police, Ridenour "declined to make a statement" when asked about his possible involvement in other recent burglaries along Ridge Pike.

Ridenour was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Edward Kroop, who set bail at $100,000. In lieu of that bail, Ridenour was transported to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.