Image courtesy of Google StreetView
The property was recently discussed by Whitpain Supervisors as homebuilders aim to add 34 carriage homes along Skippack Pike.
A homeless man was charged with criminal trespassing after police found him living out of an abandoned building in Blue Bell, according to reports. The property, along Skippack Pike, was recently discussed by the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors for an upcoming housing development.
According to Whitpain Township Police Department, Joseph Edward Baum, with no valid address, 60, was observed by police to be occupying a property at 1730 Skippack Pike in Blue Bell. On Saturday, Aug. 24, police responded to the former nursery and landscaping business, which has been empty and abandoned for more than 10 years and found Baum “living out of” the building on the site, police said.
The property was discussed at an August meeting of the board of supervisors as Rouse Chamberlain Homes, an Exton-based homebuilder, aims to place 34 carriage homes on the 13.87 acres included in the parcel.
Police reported that a witness observed a male inside of the abandoned property and called police on Friday, Aug. 23. The witness provided a description of a 5’5” tall male with a gray beard. Police reported to the scene the following morning, according to reports, at 10:18 a.m., but did not see any people inside the structure.
Instead, finding the back door of the building unsecured, police said that they entered the abandoned facility and found “trash, food on various shelving, bedding on the floor, clothing hanging, and other various items consistent with a person living on location,” according to the written report.
Whitpain Police said they revisited the site at 2:27 p.m. that same day and found Baum, who fit the witness’ description, standing in the doorway of the property. He entered the building, reports said, and closed the door behind him. Police said they spoke to Baum once inside and were able to identify him only through “multiple prior police contacts.”
Baum told police, per reports, that the owner knew he was there, but police had confirmed with the property’s owner that she did not authorize anyone to be on the property nor did anyone have permission to be inside any buildings on the lot. The property, according to police, also had many “Keep Out” signs displayed, as well as an additional sign stating, “No Trespassing, Private Property.”
According to reports, Baum did not have permission to be on the property, and he was then taken into custody by police for criminal trespassing.
Baum was formally charged with the felony of criminal trespassing by entering a structure on Aug. 24. He was released on unsecured bond-signature bail of $1,000 following a preliminary arraignment the same day. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard on Sept. 5.
