Police: local repairman stole and cashed homeowner's blank checks

Posted: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 

After a local repairman accepted a homeowner’s check for work he performed, Bristol Township police say he helped himself to a half-dozen blank checks that were cashed for more than $1,000.

Police say that William Cloak III, 33, of the Indian Creek section of Levittown, worked on the heating system of the victim’s Apricot Lane home between December 2011 and January 2012.

William Cloak III

In February, the woman reported to police that someone had cashed five of her checks, which had been stolen from her home. The checks were all made payable to Matthew Kutler, who the victim didn’t know.

During the police investigation, a sixth unauthorized check for $150 was discovered. That sixth check was made payable to another person she didn’t know — Donald Buscher.

All six checks ranged in amounts from $50 to $400, totaling $1,200, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Police working with security at the victim’s bank obtained photographs of Kutler cashing four of the victim’s checks, and Cloak and Buscher each cashing one check, according to the affidavit.

The victim identified Cloak from one of the photos as the heating repair man who did work at her home and Kutler as his helper on the job, police said.

In March, police spoke with Buscher, 30, who lives in Indian Creek. He confirmed that he had cashed a check that Cloak had given him, according to court documents.

A couple months later, Kutler, 20, of the Goldenridge section of Levittown, told police he had cashed five of the victim’s checks, which Cloak had filled out and given to him. Kutler told police that he endorsed the checks and split the proceeds with Cloak after cashing them, court documents said.

Buscher is scheduled for trial later this month on charges of forgery, access device crimes, identity theft and receiving stolen property related to the incident, according to online court records.

Kutler pleaded guilty in August to charges of access device unauthorized use, identity theft, theft and forgery and received two years probation.

Cloak was arraigned Tuesday before Bristol Township District Judge Robert Wagner Jr. on 37 felonies, including multiple counts of forgery, unauthorized access device use, and identity theft.

He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000.

Donald Buscher.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia

Matthew Kutler