Nanny cam captures burglar stealing from child's piggy bank as family sleeps in Northern Liberties

Friday, August 23, 2019
Video captures burglars inside Northern Liberties home while family slept
Video captures burglars inside Northern Liberties home while family slept. Dann Cuellar has more on Action News at 11 p.m. on August 22, 2019.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A burglar was captured on nanny cam emptying a piggy bank belonging to a 4-year-old boy who was asleep upstairs, along with his parents, inside their Philadelphia home early Thursday morning.

Police are searching for that suspect and a second one who entered the home on North Lithgow Street in Northern Liberties.

The surveillance cameras captured the two burglars snooping around inside Jordana Astrologo's home.

"It was really disturbing, it was really scary and it was kind of surreal," said Astrologo.

One of the burglars came into clear view, unaware there was a camera recording him.

The man ultimately eyed the child's piggy bank.

The thief took the piggy bank and emptied it of whatever coins the little boy had found and saved.

"That wasn't right. You're really that desperate that you're going to take coins?" said Astrologo.

The boy's mother said the suspect left the piggy bank behind.

"He doesn't know. I'm not going to tell him, so we'll try to replenish it," said Astrologo.

The couple woke up in the morning to find the place had been ransacked and a number of items, including credit cards, had been stolen.

They later determined they apparently had accidentally left the front door unlocked.

Police said that's exactly what thieves looking for a crime of opportunity are hoping for.

Astrologo worries things could have been a lot worse; she said she won't ever let that happen again.

"Double, triple check and probably put in some kind of security lock that automatically locks," said Astrologo.

Police have looked at the video, but do not believe at this point that the suspect is the same man involved in a rash of burglaries in Spring Garden.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.