×

Man allegedly stole tools from Lowe’s

A Queen man, who allegedly walked out of Lowe’s in Altoona with high-value items twice in February, is being charged with felony theft, court documents stated.

Justin R. Lingenfelter, 40, was charged with a single count of felony retail theft Tuesday, after allegedly admitting to stealing several items from the store, according to court documents.

Around Feb. 9, a man matching Lingenfelter’s description entered Lowe’s and within about eight minutes, loaded a cart with power tools worth about $350 and exited the store without paying for the items, then loaded them into a vehicle registered to Lingenfelter’s mother, police reported.

On Feb. 15, the same man returned and again loaded a cart with valuable items, including a welding machine, before putting some small items in a Lowe’s bag he brought with him and exiting past a cashier, displaying the bag as if he had paid for the items elsewhere in the store, court documents stated.

The total of the second round of stolen items was about $700, police reported.

Using video footage, police traced the alleged thief’s vehicle registration and spoke with a relative, who identified Lingenfelter as the perpetrator in security footage, court documents stated.

Lingenfelter turned himself in on Feb. 28 and allegedly said he stole the items, but could not explain why, a criminal complaint stated.

In 2000 and on two occasions in 2017, Lingenfelter was convicted of retail theft, according to police.

Lingenfelter was not arraigned, nor detained.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15 before Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio.

Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
I'm interested in (please check all that apply)(Required)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?(Required)