News

January 21, 2009

Man charged with trying to steal rig

Police allege they caught West Hazleton man after he disabled firm’s alarm system.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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BUTLER TWP. – A West Hazleton man was arrested late Monday night by township police, who alleged he disabled an alarm system with plans to steal a tractor-trailer from a trucking company.

Police said in a news release they caught Victor Mayas, 38, of North Broad Street, carrying a case of beer from Martini Trucking on South Hunter Highway.

In arrest records, police allege Mayas conspired to steal a tractor-trailer containing cargo valued at $100,000 from the company on Jan. 12.

Mayas was charged with two counts of criminal trespass, and one count each of receiving stolen property, theft and criminal conspiracy to commit theft. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

According to police and the criminal complaint:

A gate alarm at the trucking company was disabled Sunday night, six days after the gate prevented a tractor-trailer from being driven off the lot after a person hotwired the tractor.

Police set up surveillance in the area and observed a man, identified as Mayas, park nearby in a parking lot. Mayas walked to the trucking company and police observed him going into trailers.

Police blocked Mayas’ vehicle as additional officers arrived at the trucking company. He was arrested when police saw him walking from the company carrying a case of beer.

Mayas admitted to police, according to the criminal complaint, that he “canvassed” the trucking company late Sunday night into Monday morning in an attempt to steal a tractor-trailer.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 27 in Central Court.

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