This is a sad story and I think the police statement is over the top. Clearly this is another example of the damage to lives when kids get involved with drugs. My heart goes out to the families of these two young men who clearly were victims of drug-seeking impulses. It sounds like there was never any violence involved, so I can only surmise that addiction plays a role.. It could happen to any of us if our kids make a poor decision. Organizations like ARCH are here to help us, but so many people refuse to object to behaviors in underage kids that three
Ones get blurred.

"the lines get blurred" (between wrong and illegal)

The mug shots show the telltale signs of meth use.

Just went back and read about the May drug bust related to Conestoga...and the insignificant bail there and the joking about whar the kids injest. These two stories are related...separated only by the ages of the "victims"...victims of gateway behavior to drug addiction seen as simply underage mischief. Can we talk about the need to take the preliminary warnings seriously?

This is so upsetting. We live next door to this boy and our home has been broken into 3 times in the past year. It is not a good feeling to know that I have been being watched. My children have been scared and we were always worried that whoever it was might be violent-especially if drugs are involved. I would love to get my jewelry and my money back but at least I now know who is responsible.

As many have commented, as sad story , especially as I know both of these young men through my kids high school sports teams. But as a resident in one of the neighborhoods that they likely robbed, there is no excuse for their actions and I am sure this will not be dealt with lightly. I do hope they get help and can someday move on from this. My thoughts go out to their parents and siblings who have to deal with this reality.

I will also take a shot at the pawn shops in the area that actually end up buying the stolen goods from these individuals - do they really think these guys are just selling grandma's jewelry that they inherited. Most of these pawn shops are no different than illegal "fencing operations" that operate in dark alleys or out of bogus storefronts.

Yes, it is a tragedy that there is drug addiction right in our own back yard. It is a tragedy that there is drug addiction anywhere. The fact remains that these men committed multiple crimes and were probably intent on continuing to commit crimes until they were eventually caught. I think the attention should be focused more on the superb job our local police department did in apprehending these men and less on what "nice boys" they are. Who knows, maybe now they will be able to turn their lives around.

If these were not local peoples' sons, but rather outsiders' sons, i fear these comments would be far different. That, to me, is the real tragedy.

I agree with that one.. If it hadn't been kids from the mainline what would people be saying? I've grown up on the mainline with a drug addiction and although loved ones try to help, authorities and schools mishandle many addicts and things get worse as this case shows.. Maybe if they were more focused on helping addicts rather than punishing them and keeping everything so "mainlinish" then this wouldn't have happened. My experience has been that they try to cover things up so that all looks good. A big reason is money and saving face. In one of my endevours school security guards and cops were involved and what happened? The security guard suddenly left the state with no consequences and the cops still work theyre current jobs.. As for me I got a very light sentence in exchange for my silence.. It's been years since this case I'm in my late 20's now and am finally drug free (no thanks to Chester county.). Addictions real and rather than keeping it so quite we need to be open about it. I went to school with one of these guys and although I'm a little older I recognize him now and you can really see what drugs have done to him.. I think others must have noticed to but no one said anything.. It's happening to more than just these two guys so hopefully something changes soon.

I went to school the same year as one of these young men. They are not boys. They are men as I am. Do not delude yourselves that drugs alone are guilty here- though inpart they of course are. both these men bullied in high school. That's how they asked for help but the school did not respond. Their problems went rewarded due to their atheletics- by peers and authorities alike. Sex, drugs, and money were what these men were given from a young age so it should come as no surprise their future reflects such rewarded greed.

drugs ruin lives. One of these young men was in our home many times over the years and we were burglarized on October 31, 2011. Makes you wonder?

Well said "Actions" and I commend you for your efforts at sobriety.

What's with police in our area talking so tough: "We're going to find you. We're going to get you." It's heartless and disgusting. How about -- "We're going to make sure you pay the price if you're guilty, but we're going to help you get rehabilitated, too." This isn't some out of state crime ring..these are our young men. They were raised in our community and they live here still. Sure, they had all the advantages in the world and got too much praise and adoration for their sports skills (welcome to Mainline sports). But, it's no longer the season opening game on the lacrosse field at St Joe's or Catholic U for these two. Can't we punish if they're guilty .. and then help them and their families find themselves again?

...

I only can speak for my relationship with one of these boys, but let me assure you these are very involved and devoted parents. And no one takes their first drug with any expectation of addiction. It's easy to speculate that people should have known...and knowing about drugs does not mean they knew about the crimes. His family loves and cares for him and he has had help. Sadly, not enough and now they get to endure community scrutiny. If your children are doing well, count your blessings, and pray for these two and their families. They have siblings and parents who are crushed by this revelation of robbery.

Preying on neighbors, friends, and their local community…these two men (not "boys" or "kids") allegedly made victims of countless households. Drug abuse and addiction lead them down this path and now separate them from a community which prides itself on being safe, secure, and wholesome. Choosing to go on what can only be described as a crime spree illustrates these two men have moral compasses which are not calibrated with our community.

If this spree had a more tragic ending (which it could very well have), would you (fellow commenters) still downplay these felony charges by relating them to "garaging", displacing the blame on the community, or by believing that others/organizations should have stepped in earlier? The notion that these men should receive preferential treatment for having the privilege to be part of our community is absurd. As their gender, race, and religion are not factors…why would their childhood home address matter? Remove the names and identities from the story above, replace them with those of 22 & 24 year old inner city youths. Should they be judged/treated differently?

Make no mistake; a crime is a crime, even on the mainline.

If these guys were from a trailer park in Honeybrook or from a project in Philly people would be screaming to "lock them up!" There would be no "these poor kids need our help". The cognitive dissonance is amazing but not unexpected.

Some of these comments are ridiculous! Here is what I know: a grown man entered my home in the beginning of May, went into my bedroom and stole jewelry that bad alot of meaning to me. Another time, he looked my husband in the face before running away in the middle of the night. The police were called and my young sleeping children were terrified. A third time, my car was broken into right beneath my bedroom window and money was stolen from me. He also robbed 3 other neighbors repeatedly in the same cul de sac that he lives in. He drove by our houses every day knowing that he had done this, this certainly can NOT be compared with garaging. Seriously? I could care less about what varsity teams he was on years ago in high school. And yes, I certainly hope that my son will not grow up and live a life of drug addiction and crime. But a 22 year old man is an adult and, while he may need help, these actions can not be tolerated.

One of these young men was in my house at 3 am. I chased him put and bought a gun the next day. If I had the gun 1 day earlier I would have used it. That's the scary thing that addicts face. Drugs are more important then life itself.

@Ricky- how dare you suggest that I could have prevented this. After the third robbery we did add to our ADT system and it cost 2k. But whether my alarm is on or NOT, it is still a crime to enter my home uninvited and TAKE things!

The difference of opinion between peers v. parents tell the story. Big surprise they acted angelic around adults. You got fooled.

I'm not so surprised. And meth is cheap- I think you guys are looking at acne and herpes. If they were only supporting a drug habit it would be heroin. I strongly doubt however the majority of the money went to such a pitiable cause. The truth will come out in court.

Ricky, your comments are ridiculous towards Krissa.
These "kids" are adults - fully aware of what they did, even if drugs played a role. It seems that a lot of people are saying either to punish to the fullest or get them help. Jail is probably the best thing for these men in both cases - there they have no choice but to sober up. I can't even imagine how violated and scared you must feel to have been robbed once, let alone multiple times, especially with young children. This is awful and I think they deserve jail time. This is unfortunate for their families, but seems to be the only thing that might actually save these "kids" in the long run.

@Krissa- Yes, it obviously is a crime, just offering a bit of standard advice on how to protect yourself from robbers. Perhaps you should cancel your ADP system and hire George Hall. Clearly he does not support the idea of his home being preyed upon by these addicted young criminals.

Let me make a point that many of you here are missing - you seem to think that because some of the posters are expressing sadness and pity that we think these men should be dealt with lightly. The REASON we are expressing those feelings is because many of us PERSONALLY KNOW the two men, their parents and their siblings and we fell terrible for all involved - just as any of you would if a close friend or family member was involved in something like this.

However - I don't see ANYONE commenting that these young criminals should not be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and required to pay full restitution. I don't see ANYONE saying we should be sweeping this under the rug and not talking about it - and it should be talked about (an believe me it is all over facebook right now). By bringing this into the open, other kids can see that their actions have consequences and if they or their friends need help they should seek it right now! The two men are lucky to be alive, they could have easily been shot by a homeowner.

As far as the police chiefs comments - That's what I want him to say! I want potential crimminals to know that the police and residents are looking out for our neighborhoods and we will be aggressive in chasing them down.

Actually, RenterNow, I think Pat has been suggesting throughout that we should be "kinder and more lenient" with these two men simply because we know them. I knew these boys when they were in high school; when they were kids. One of them was a really good basketball player and frankly, I would never have thought he would turn out to be drug addicted. Looking into their faces in these pictures is so sad. They look like meth heads. But, I could also care less what their athletic accomplishments were...they are now men, and should be tried and potentially convicted and sentenced accordingly. Jail could be the best worst place for them to be.

CC2
I regret that I am leaving the impression that they should be dealt with in a special way. I simply am offended when any "concerned parent" presumes that this happens because of poor parenting. And the use of quotes to argue it --so we all agree that every alcoholic deserves that addiction since they took drinking on. No one thinks they will get addicted. Parents can and do fight drugs, but they are very insidious enemies. If convicted, they can and will pay the price. I am hoping this group will pile on less and remember the pride goeth before a fall.

I don't understand all this sympathy, and naming them "boys". I went to school in the same grade as one of them, and couldn't agree more with stogad: he was a mean, cold bully, from the start in middle school, and I watched him make other children's lives hell. And as for treating them differently because they were "promising athletes", I too was a varsity athlete from Conestoga (yet still teased by this man). Are we both "better people" because of it? Should we be able to get away with crimes because athleticism equals purity? I also was involved in these "gateway drugs" when I was underage, but have still managed to live a successful life free of crime or poor decisions. Hundreds of my 'stoga friends share this trait with me. There is simply one conclusion here: these boys were bad men.

I am grateful for a job well done from our police department. Bravo Superintendent Anthony Giaimo, your department caught the men! I met Superintendent Giaimo a few years ago with an incident I was having with a continuous obscene caller. Within two weeks, he found the criminal, took care of it, and I felt safe again. Since then I have gratefully made a yearly contribution to the TTPA and the TPA (the least I can do to support our officers). As far as these robberies, our area was hit numerous times. Although I was not personally robbed, I still felt the pressure of being scared that our home would be next. We are all victims when it’s close to home. It is not a tragic that these men were caught. They reap what they sow. Did anyone consider that this is a moral issue? Addicts are not all criminals; some have jobs for years and keep their addiction in the closet. You can’t tell me that at some point in a moment of clarity when they were not drug induced that they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong.

I have much more trouble having sympathy for privileged white people who got their jewelry stolen because they left their doors unlocked than victims of drug addiction. As for the comments about what would happen if these were black kids from north Philly or trailer park residents, that comparison does not really hold up as these men have the education and resources to turn their lives around and be successful while the other men do not. I hope these men get the help they need.

I do think that the comments would be significantly different is these men were black. I hope that the empathy expressed regarding them could one day be extended to all irrespective to race and social class. I hope that one day the Iillness of illegal drug use is eradicated. One can dream.

Hey JH my doors were locked. But even if weren't, it is still ILLEGAL. And these men are privileged people by the way.

And people that make comments like that should have the guts to pst their name

I didnt say they shouldn't be punished its just two men with serious problems vs suburban residents whining about nonviolent crime. They need help, but throwing them in jail and forgetting about them won't solve anything.

Also, if they didn't even use force to get in then how could they have gotten in if your door was actually locked? Seems hard to believe that it wasn't partially your fault for not securing your house. I didn't get burglarized and I don't even have an alarm system, just traditional lock and key. Works wonders.

anyone who enters a home illegally in the middle of the night deserves whatever they get period. I will say however that it's obvious that a break in that occurs in a rather affluent area such as ours is handled far differently then one in say...North Philadelphia. When our home was broke into by one of these young men there was a helicopter with thermal imaging equipment flying overhead within 30 minutes. If the break in had occurred in Darby would it have been that fast?

JH - have some compassion for the victims here..... My interpretation of violent force is entering with guns, etc..... breaking windows to gain access is surely a possibility here...and hardly what I would call violent force. Did you ever stop to consider that they jimmied locked doors open or perhaps broke a few windows in the process? I would also submit to you that if these were two black men from OUR high school, we wouldn't be coming to their defense as we are with these two.

Hey jh still haven't told us your name' are you a neighbor of mine? They picked my lock and broke my knob. Not that I have to answer to you. You are pathetic.

Concerned parent - why the quotation marks around "black men from OUR high school"?? We do have some affluent black people in our school district, you know....

I have been following comments here and feel compelled to add the following: Knowing the families of these two boys and the morals/values that were instilled in them, I am convinced that active addiction was present. Being an alcoholic with 3 1/2 years sober now, I look back on my four years of active alcoholism and see very clearly how sick I was. I did things in those 4 years that I wouldn't dream of doing sober. I had DUIs in Chester and Delaware counties and served 6 months in Chester County Prison back in 2007. We don't "choose" to become alcoholic or addict; our bodies process the alcohol or drug in a different way than "normal" people. I fully accepted (then and now) that I must pay for my crimes....and I did. I pray that these boys find the strength to 1) accept and serve the punishment they are dealt and know, as I did, that they deserve it 2) achieve sobriety themselves and 3) spend however many years necessary to make reparation to their victims. One thing I know for sure is that prison was not as horrific as movies and television make it out to be; it's all in one's attitude and level of acceptance. I pray for the boys' families and for them ...... that they come out the other side (and they WILL get thru this and be better for it) repentant, stronger, and greatly committed to sobriety.

I feel like this argument has gotten way off track... No doubt these men should face what they've done, who've they harmed, and what's going to happen because of their actions. What I'm concerned about is how it managed to get to this point for these two without anyone saying or doing anything about it. What needs to be done so this doesn't happen to other families... Age, race, home address and wealth shouldn't be as focused on as they are. I feel bad for the families that got victimized, for the families of these two men, and yes, even for these two men. I don't condone what they did by any means but I do understand the mental and physical anguish they were under when they committed these crimes. It's like drowning and you can't stop it. You can't breathe and u can't think and the only thing that will allow u to breathe again is that drug. It's nearly impossible to describe the feeling of addiction to someone that doesn't have it. But that's why I think we need to focus less on the specifics of this case and more about what can be done to prevent this from happening again. Otherwise it can and it will and what if it's your child?

@Krissa
Great...ad hominem attacks...why am I not surprised? Some people just can't be reasoned with.

Please don't feel bad for these men. I went to high school with both of them and graduated the same year with one of them. Both were bullies, mean-spirited, knew they were privileged to live affluent lives and flaunted it disgustingly. During my time at Conestoga I saw them witnessed them picking on students and teachers alike. (Sorry Pat Campbell, both really were bullies despite your view from the sidelines as a parent, etc.) While many seem to hope that these men will be able to turn their lives around now that they have been caught, and possibly offered avenues of further help, sadly I just don't think that will be the case. They have lived their lives as entitled individuals, convinced and portrayed to others from an early age that authority does not apply to them, and even further, that they just don't care. I echo an early comment that says that the peers tell quite the different story than the myriad of parents here. It's a lesson with a sad outcome, but one that I hope all of the TE parents will take from this ... if you want to help your children educate them on the privilege they have, the affluent area they are blessed to live in, and the outstanding education they receive. Then, tell them how not to abuse it, nor take it for granted.

Stoga Peer: " I also was involved in these "gateway drugs" when I was underage, but have still managed to live a successful life free of crime or poor decisions. Hundreds of my 'stoga friends share this trait with me. There is simply one conclusion here: these boys were bad men."

Between this comment and that of others who have referred to addiciton, I think this is the piece we could all focus on to recognize that we have a problem. So Stogapeer was an athlete who messed around and didn't get addicted? And "hundreds" of his friends did drugs as well? I'll accept that I misjudged this young man -- but should I suspect his sister? Is it everywhere? It sounds to me like these behaviors are status quo (drug use?) and right of passage. StogaGrad6, we have programs throughout this region -- and the schools have REACH and DARE and ARCH and Peer Counselling ....how do we get to the root of this and avoid these problems before they turn into criminals? Is there a predisposition to addiction and bullying and crime?

I have been following the comments. First, I believe that these two young men need to face the consequences of their actions. They are charged with serious crimes and their fate will be determined in a court of law. What makes this case so perplexing is that these two men who grew up with affluence, great schools, and
loving families still ended up where they are today. All the advantages failed to prevent this outcome. My heart goes out to their families who must now deal with the aftermath of their son's shocking actions. They understand the lost hopes and dreams and the obstacles that these young men will forever face in their lives. They will mourn what could have been and likely blame themselves. Imagine being in their shoes. Any one of us could have. Instead of casting stones, we should show empathy and compassion to these families. Like the rest of us, I am sure that these parents always had the best intentions for their children. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us, they failed on these two men. As for bullying, I believe if one feels confident in themselves, they have no need or desire to bully. Despite all their achievements, these two young men still had issues with themselves. I really feel for the victims of the crimes as their lives have also been forever changed. To be made to feel scared and unsafe in one's own home is horrible. Our home is our sanctuary and the victims sanctuaries have been violated. A very tragic situation for so many people.

To: Concerned Parent: Although there are many things I could say in response to your question from yesterday, this is not the forum. Please feel free to email me and I will respond. casr830@yahoo.com

A while back a young mother who lived in Avonwood, with her three young children, learned a big lesson about the superficiality and priorities of people living in 'those neighborhoods'.  Her husband had left, the bank accounts were wiped out, and in an effort to survive she cut out household expenses and took on three jobs. This meant the gardener had to go.  In no time an anonymous letter arrived in the mail box from 'many concerned Avonwood neighbors' . . . Concerned that the children had become latch-key kids due to the mother's 80-hour a week work schedule??  Nope.  There were weeds growing on the front hill.  My best guess is that the outside of the Thieving Druggie's parents' home looked pristine.   After all, one woman who was robbed THREE times was shocked to find out it was her neighbor.  Priorities people, come on, the house had new landscaping!!!  Wake Up!

Sorry, "Alledged thieving druggie".

Their athletic careers have nothing to do with the topic at hand

I think the presumption of guilt here is officially reckless. Some alleged neighbor has testified here. I'll wait for the trial if it's okay with the rest of you. posts are declaring guilt and referencing family failures. Should we just assume every burglary in the last year was this drug-driven crime ring? If Kris and 3 neighbors were all robbed...what took so long? You say May, but the police report says Nov-March?
Seriously--how much do we want to rely on a press release from a new police chief claiming success to determine guilt or innocence? stop and think. Please.

If these kids were black, youd be talking about throwing the book at them. But since they are white, youre making it abt drug addiction, age, the police force, etc.

White people commit crimes too. Get over it.

I think what really needs to be addressed is the fact that young people don't understand the dangers of getting involved with painkillers. That is the issue. I went to school with one of them; he was a great student and a great kid. Was, being the operative word. How he changed after starting with oxy's and percosets is obvious from the actions he committed. Of course he should be held accountable, and of course what he did was wrong. The real problem is users don't get how dangerous these pills are; they are, in fact, heroin. They are made of the same chemical bases as heroin, and packaged in a pretty blue pill that looks so harmless. At $25 and $50 a pill one might think they're taking a high-class drug (if there ever was one.) A guy from a good neighborhood will take it because these pills are in everone's medicine cabinet, must be safe. They take a pill, take more, need more; soon they are taking 10 pills a day with no money to support the habit. Heroin is a great solution (NOTE: sarcasm). I've seen this happen to so many of my friends, even my own brother. I came from a great family with a truly amazing mother. It has nothing to do with how you were raised; it has to do with your body and its own chemistry. People don't understand that they're getting into prescription heroin, and soon they're hooked. And trust me, there are always people close to an addict who know exactly what is happening; the sad truth is you can't help someone until they really want to be helped.

I really wish I knew why so many people do it. In my opinion, pills just are not stigmatized as much as any other drug; they do not have as great of a negative connotation as other drugs; no one is afraid of being labeled a pill user. On top of that, I think our generation has the diluted idea that they are well versed in all-things narcotics, and know what to avoid. You don't often hear about people (other than celebrities and suicide victims) dying of pill overdoses, or going to jail for pills. The consequences just aren't as visible, so seemingly, they don't exist.

How many teens are prescribed Oxys for various athletic injuries or wisdom teeth surgery? I said above and no one wanted to listen -- no one takes these things with any understanding of the possibility of addiction. Risky behavior is part of living on the edge -- and as some of the Stoga commens above indicated " 100s of my friends" did this and are normal adults. CP == you are right that you may only get one chance to say no. No matter what the parenting style is, this is still a personal choice.

There is a significant difference between being prescribed narcotics like Percocet, Oxycontin, etc....for serious pain management, and knowingly purchasing them and taking them for recreational purposes. Please.....