News

May 30, 2009

Men arrested for driving off in car

Police say two men stole items from parked cars and took an idling vehicle.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Edward Lewis on Facebook   |   @TLEdLewis on Twitter

SWOYERSVILLE – A man on probation for burglary and theft charges was arrested by police on Friday for his alleged role in stealing items from parked vehicles and driving off in a vehicle belonging to a newspaper carrier.

Robert E. Pyle, 36, of McCabe Street, Hanover Township, was charged with six counts each of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy, and one count each of possessing instruments of crime, prohibited offensive weapons and loitering and prowling at night. He was arraigned by District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

Police alleged Pyle and John W. Beacham, 30, of Trucksville, were rummaging through vehicles parked outside the Tripp Street apartments on Sunday. The two men, police alleged, drove off in a vehicle that was left running by a Citizens’ Voice newspaper carrier.

An arrest warrant was issued for Beacham, accusing him of similar crimes, on Friday.

According to the criminal complaint:

Matthew Larkin told police he left his 2000 Dodge Ram pickup idling outside the apartment complex at 4 a.m. While he was delivering newspapers, Larkin heard a car door shut and observed his vehicle being driven away.

Larkin ran through the parking lot calling 911, and noticed the vehicle turning onto a side street, the criminal complaint says.

Police recovered Larkin’s vehicle on Watkins Street, Forty Fort.

Pyle was found hiding on Slocum Street by police who alleged he was in possession of three knives in his pockets, the criminal complaint says.

Pyle denied he stole the Dodge telling police, according to the criminal complaint, that he was unfamiliar with the neighborhood after being thrown out of another vehicle by two men.

During a second interview with police on Monday, the criminal complaint says, Pyle admitted he was riding bicycles with Beacham near the apartments rummaging through vehicles stealing a shotgun, knives and money.

Pyle denied stealing the Dodge, telling Beacham he didn’t want to get involved in the theft of a vehicle.

According to court records, Pyle is in his first of a four-year probation sentence for stealing items from a tractor-trailer on the Sans Souci Parkway on Aug. 3, 2007, attempting to break into a Chinese restaurant, Sans Souci Parkway and Carey Avenue, and breaking into a tavern on Oxford Street, all in Hanover Township, on Sept. 13, 2007.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on June 8 in Central Court.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews