CLAYSBURG - A Claysburg man stole a Bible and nearly $1,900 worth of belongings from seven vehicles in Claysburg July 17, court documents state.
Daniel A. Diehl, 33, of 773 Bedford St., remained in Blair County Prison on Friday on a parole detainer after his arrest by Greenfield Township police shortly after the alleged break-ins.
Officer Bryan Ketner allegedly spotted Diehl walking along Dunnings Highway shortly after 2 a.m., according to Diehl's arrest papers. Ketner reported watching Diehl pour beer from a 40-ounce bottle concealed in a brown bag before tossing it alongside the road. After Diehl was taken into custody for public drunkenness, police allegedly discovered several credit cards with someone else's name on them in his backpack.
Police traced the cards to a vehicle that was allegedly broken into on the 200 block of Bedford Street and found that six other vehicles in the area were allegedly entered by Diehl.
In all, Diehl is suspected of taking a King James Bible, credit cards, an $800 Fuji digital camera, a $200 Verizon phone, two Garmin GPS units, an MP3 player, a flashlight, cigarettes, loose change and a silver ring with a heart-shaped purple stone and diamonds.
Police said that Diehl confessed to the break-ins and that all items were recovered, including the ring after Diehl allegedly took it with him when he was taken to the county jail.
Diehl is charged with seven counts each of theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night, plus eight counts access device fraud and summary charges of criminal mischief, public drunkenness and littering. He was sent summonses on the charges.
He is due to appear before Magisterial District Judge Craig Ormsby for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 26.
