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Two Hollidaysburg men are accused of taking $25,000 worth of tools from a Frankstown Township business.
Dylon Shane Gardner, 26, was arraigned Sunday night before Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller on two felony charges each of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy to burglary. Unable to post $100,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison.
Scott Charles Jones, 24, was also arraigned Sunday night before Miller on felony charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and conspiracy to burglary. Unable to post $50,000 bail, he was remanded to the prison.
Police investigating an Aug. 13 theft at Penn Turf Inc., a tire recycling facility at 531 Tel Power Road, Frankstown Township, served a Stage 1 warrant via the Google LERS Portal on Sept. 8.
In obtaining the warrant, police were looking for information on a suspect caught on video surveillance entering the business, smashing a Honeywell Home security system and taking a lock box containing about $2,329 in cash. The suspect left in a small silver vehicle traveling west toward Hollidaysburg, police reported.
The warrant showed only one device being operated at Penn Turf during the time of the burglary, police said.
Police then secured a Stage 2 Warrant, which showed the device at a residence on Juniata Valley Road, Frankstown Township. The resident known to live at the location has been involved in theft investigations in the past, court documents state.
A Stage 3 Warrant showed Gardner as the Google subscriber, police said.
While investigating the Penn Turf case, police were dispatched Nov. 6 to a theft at JLS Construction, 310 Locke Mountain Road, Frankstown Township. The meter box was removed and the entire video surveillance system was stolen, police said. In addition, about $25,000 in tools were stolen from the business and surrounding trailers including 15 Dewalt batteries labeled "JLS," a Graco paint sprayer, Dewalt circular saw, Dewalt charger, three Bostitch nail guns, 1,000 feet of 10-gauge wiring, a Dewalt cordless router, Dewalt planer, Dewalt impact drill, Dewalt cordless planer, Dewalt bit case, three rolls of 12×2 wiring, small rod of 10-gauge 250 wiring, Makita hammer drill, Husqvarna 20-inch saw, Husqvarna 22-inch saw, Dewalt cordless saw, two Honda generators, Stihl chainsaw, starting fluid, Lorax security system, Wacker Neuson Rammer BS600, submersible pumps, Graco spray gun, Stihl concrete saw, air compressor, welder and plasma cutter.
Before officers learned of the JLS theft, police were contacted about 6:33 a.m. Nov. 6 by a witness who saw two four-wheelers on Juniata Valley Road that seemed suspicious. Police did not find anything in the area. After responding to the theft case, police again talked to the witness who saw the four-wheelers. She told police someone got off a four-wheeler and threw something into the cart. She continued driving and saw another four-wheeler, looked directly at the driver and knew it was Scott Charles Jones.
Police made contact with Jones at his Frankstown Township home and within a few minutes, Jones told police he was with Dylon Gardner during the early morning hours of Nov. 6. After being transported to the Hollidaysburg State Police barracks, Jones was read his Miranda Warning and agreed to talk to officers. He told police he and Gardner committed the theft. He said Gardner cut the power and the meter box and pried open the back door. They loaded their carts with the items and went to Jones' residence on Braim Lane. Several of the items, he told police, were left at his house, but he didn't know what Gardner did with the other stolen items.
While police outlined nine local burglaries with similar circumstances in the affidavit of probable cause, Gardner is currently charged for the Aug. 13 Penn Turf burglary and the Nov. 6 JLS Construction burglary.
Jones is being charged in relation to the Nov. 6 thefts from JLS, police said.
Both Jones and Gardner face preliminary hearings Nov. 15 before Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner.