Two 18-year-old men from Shaler are accused of stealing belongings from unlocked vehicles in the township early Sunday morning.
Shaler police charged Samuel Joseph Ruano and Jacob Thomas Klugh.
In court filings, Shaler police said they went to the 200 block of Rosebriar Drive shortly before 3 a.m. for a reported theft from a vehicle. Hampton officers assisted.
An officer saw two men, later identified as Ruano and Klugh, crouch down behind a pickup parked nearby on Rose Drive, according to their criminal complaints. As officers approached, they both immediately got up and tried to walk away, the complaints state.
Klugh was arrested. Police said Ruano got onto an electric scooter and traveled down the street before dropping it two houses down and walking back toward officers, who arrested him.
Klugh was wearing a black face covering, and Ruano was carrying a black ski mask, police said.
At the pickup, police said, they found belongings valued at about $460 that included a Halo Bolt Air, a Guess wallet, RayBan sunglasses, Warby Parker eyeglasses, a flashlight and a Bluey plush.
Police said Klugh and Ruano agreed to answer questions.
According to the complaints, Ruano told police they were at Klugh’s home when they decided to take a ride on the scooter. Ruano said they had the idea of seeing if car doors were locked, and that they took items from multiple unlocked cars, the complaints state.
Klugh at first denied being involved with the thefts, then admitted entering vehicles, police said.
While Klugh said they tried about 15 cars and entered about eight, Ruano said he tried about five and entered about three, according to the complaints.
Police said they reviewed video footage from the Rosebriar Drive home. In it, two men matching the descriptions of Ruano and Klugh are seen jumping over a fence and then walking toward and entering two vehicles, the complaints state. Ruano is seen opening the center console of one of the vehicles, while Klugh is seen looking through belongings in the other, police said.
Ruano is charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor count of theft from a motor vehicle, and a summary charge of defiant trespass, according to court records.
Klugh is charged with misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property, theft from a motor vehicle and conspiracy; and a summary charge of defiant trespass, according to court records.
They were released on nonmonetary bonds after being arraigned Sunday. Their preliminary hearings before District Judge Daniel Konieczka Jr. are scheduled for Jan. 22.
Shaler police asked residents to remember to lock their vehicles and to not leave valuables in them. Residents who see suspicious activity should call 911.
