Community Corner

Towamencin Woman Arrested for Filing False Police Report

Jillian Harbison, 30, of Ardwick Terrace, falsely claimed her purse was stolen from a friend's car parked on West Third Street. Police said she admitted to filing the false report in order to get a new prescription for Oxycodone and Neurontin

Lansdale Police have arrested a Towamencin woman for falsely reporting to police her purse was stolen from a friend's car parked on West Third Street, and admitted she did it to get a new prescription for drugs.

Jillian Roth Harbison, 30, of the 100 block of Ardwick Terrace in Chatham Village in Towamencin, was arrested July 17 and charged with false reports to law enforcement, a third-degree misdemeanor, police said.

Harbison was arraigned before District Judge Kate McGill and bail was set at $1,500 unsecured, police said.

Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 18 at 1:15 p.m. before District Judge Harold Borek.

On May 1 at 6:50 p.m., Harbison reported to Lansdale Police that her purse was stolen from a friend's car while it was parked on the unit block of West Third Street in Lansdale, police said.

Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Harbison reported stolen items included a $400 Coach bag, $600 cash, several credit and debit cards, 100 Neurontin pills, 100 Oxycodone pills and other personal belongings, police said.

Police viewed footage from surveillance cameras at , which did not show anyone approaching the car between the time Harbison and her friend exited the car and the time they returned to the vehicle, police said.

Detectives discovered weeks later that Harbison had used the very same credit and debit cards she reported stolen to make purchases at various stores, police said.

A warrant was issued for Harbison's arrest after she failed to return calls to detectives on numerous occasions, police said. 

On July 17, police were notified Harbison was at a Bucks County hospital, where she was being treated for minor injuries related to an auto accident. She was taken into custody, police said.

Harbison allegedly admitted to police that she filed a false report in order to obtain a new prescription for drugs, police said.

This is Harbison's first criminal offense in Montgomery County, according to court records.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here