A Mechanicsburg man is facing more than 60 charges in Blair County after an investigation into a string of vehicle thefts that occurred in December 2025.

Radmir Karimov, 18, was arraigned Friday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on multiple felony counts of theft, receiving stolen property, criminal attempt theft, conspiracy theft and conspiracy receiving stolen property, along with multiple misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, receiving stolen property, theft, access device fraud, loitering, conspiracy theft and more.

Bail was set at $250,000 and he was remanded to the Blair County Prison, awaiting a March 11 preliminary hearing before DeAntonio.

The lengthy affidavit of probable cause lays out the weekslong investigation into the string of thefts involving items taken from parked vehicles and, in some cases, vehicles being damaged and stolen.

Police said the thefts occurred in both the low number avenue/street region of Altoona and in the Juniata section of Altoona. In addition, similar thefts were reported in the Tyrone area, all within the same timeframe of early December 2025.

Among the cars stolen were a Ford Escape, a Hyundai Elantra, a Mercedes A400, a Kia Optima and a Subaru Crosstrek, with the Mercedes and Subaru being stolen in State College and driven to Altoona, police reported.

In several cases, vehicles were broken into and steering columns damaged in an effort to bypass security and take the vehicles.

The long list of items stolen from multiple vehicles includes a checkbook, Social Security card, a duty belt with OC spray and handcuffs, a rifle, registration and insurance papers, a ring of work keys, sunglasses, floor scraper, a backpack, Samsung Galaxy S9, green apron with pens and work items, shoulder bag, fanny back with wallet, headphones and credit cards, cash, boxing gloves and more.

In at least one case, a stolen credit card was used to purchase gas for the stolen Subaru, court documents state. In another case, the stolen handcuffs were found on the handle of another vehicle.

In many cases, some of the stolen items were scattered near where they were taken.

During the investigation, police interviewed victims and viewed surveillance video in an effort to identify the suspects.

Police were able to identify and locate several juveniles who allegedly admitted to taking part in and/or knowing about the thefts, all indicating that Karimov, who was visiting from Mechanicsburg, was involved.

At one male juvenile’s home, police received permission to search the teen’s room for him. While he was not there at the time, police noticed in plain sight several items that had been reported stolen. In addition, drug paraphernalia was seen in the teen’s room, police reported.

With that information, police obtained a search warrant, seizing a white iPhone, gift cards, boxing gloves, a “cat” key and additional key on the same ring, drug paraphernalia and Yeezy sneakers.

While the search was being conducted, the teen walked in the front door and was placed into custody. A search incident to arrest turned up the key to the stolen Subaru, police said, along with marijuana, part of a white gold and diamond chain necklace and a cellphone.

While speaking with police, the teen said he had been staying with another teen for much of the week involving the thefts, though the teen denied being involved.

When told he was seen on video with the stolen vehicles, he admitted that he and the other teen were there, police reported.

He also admitted to going to State College and attempting to enter several vehicles until they took the Subaru. The teen said he followed Karimov to the Sheetz, where he was given the stolen credit card to purchase fuel.

When asked where Karimov went when they returned to Altoona, the teen said likely back to Mechanicsburg.

When asked how he got the white gold and diamond chain, the teen said it was from a friend. Police then confronted him about a police report made that the chain was taken at gunpoint. The teen said the person who gave him the chain, as well as a jacket, was at the robbery and watched it take place.

During the investigation, police were contacted by the Hampden Township Police Department, which arrested Karimov on warrants out of Cumberland County and on new offenses in their jurisdiction, the affidavit states.

Hampden Township police observed the stolen Kia outside Karimov’s residence. Karimov was eventually dropped off near the Kia and officers took him into custody. Police found two cellphones and two stolen credit/debit cards on his person.

Hampden Township police also recovered a number of items that had been stolen in the Blair County thefts, according to the report.

Several teens are suspected of being involved in the local thefts. They are not identified in court documents and no information is available about what, if any, charges they face in juvenile court.