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City man held in theft of tools

Police say $3,700 in items taken from business

An Altoona man charged in the burglary of a Snyder Township home in January is now accused of stealing from an auto salvage business.

Lance J. Phillips, 32, was arraigned Thursday on felony and misdemeanor theft-related charges stemming from the theft of tools from Tyrone Auto Salvage on East Pleasant Valley Boulevard, just south of Tyrone.

According to charges filed by state police, two men wearing masks were captured on security video taking items from the salvage yard on Sunday morning. State police said a Snap-On tool box and a Fiskar splitting maul were stolen and video showed the men loading items into a silver-colored two-door Dodge Camaro with a black stripe on the hood.

The value of the tools in the toolbox was estimated at $3,600, while the maul was valued at $100.

The thefts were discovered Monday, and state police noted that, on Tuesday, Tyrone police notified them to report that a Camaro matching the description of the car in the video had been located.

The car was parked on Bald Eagle Avenue and a check of its registration came back to a woman whose Facebook page indicated that she is engaged to Phillips.

A check of Facebook Marketplace also showed Phillips listed several Snap-On tools for sale as well as a red Snap-On toolbox, according to state police.

Phillips was taken into custody at the home on the 1400 block of Bald Eagle Avenue on Wednesday on a warrant connected to the January burglary of a home on Beastons Road in Snyder Township.

State police indicated Phillips confessed to stealing the tools from Tyrone Auto Salvage and although he sold the tools for $175, the toolbox was inside the house.

Phillips remains in Blair County Prison with bail set in the latest case at $15,000 cash.

Bail for the January burglary case set Wednesday remains at $25,000 cash. Phillips is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 21.

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