Richland man tells cops he stole car to deliver food

A Richland man accused of stealing a car told police that he took the vehicle so he could earn some money delivering food for restaurants.

Robert Proehl, 38, of the 100 block of Chowning Court, was charged by Northern Regional Police with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property.

Proehl faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Tom Swan on June 8.

The owner of the vehicle told police that he parked his 2002 Saab in the restaurant’s lower lot at about 7:30 p.m. on April 23 so his daughter could drive home after her shift was over, according to a criminal complaint.

The man told police the car was gone when his daughter got off work at 9 p.m. He also reported that the keys were left in the center console and the doors were not locked, the complaint said.

Police issued an advisory through 911 for officers in the region to be on the lookout for the stolen Saab, which was spotted by Ohio Township police at about 11 p.m. traveling along Route 65, according to the complaint. The car was pulled over and Proehl was taken into custody.

Investigators said Proehl went to the Northern Regional Police Department’s headquarters in Pine on April 25 to recover personal items he left in the vehicle.

Proehl agreed to speak with police and told them he was walking past the restaurant along Ranalli Drive and saw a woman get out of the car and drive off with someone else, the complaint said.

He told investigators that he saw the key on the ground and “needed to make some money, so I picked it up and started door dashing,” which is a reference to the DoorDash online food delivery service.