Greensburg police used convenience store surveillance photographs to identify a couple who allegedly stole a woman’s purse out of a car and went on a spending spree this month.
Amanda M. Hoeft, 23, and her boyfriend, Dylan M. Bollman, 28, were charged by police with theft, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence in connection with the May 4 incident. Hoeft is also charged with forgery, theft by deception, access device fraud and possession of drug paraphernalia before Greensburg District Judge Chris Flanigan.
The victim told police that she was unloading items from the vehicle and taking them into a house she owns along the 300 block of Brush Avenue. She told police she returned to her car and saw that her Vera Bradley purse containing a wallet, credit cards, jewelry and a watch were gone.
Police allege Hoeft used the credit cards the same day to summon a Lyft ride to White Rabbit in Greensburg and Steak and Shake restaurant and Walmart, both in Hempfield. Police allege she also used the stolen cards at the Sunoco convenience store on West Otterman Street and the Dollar General store, both in Greensburg, and several other area stores.
Officer Garret McNamara estimates the value of the stolen items and amount of items charged on the cards will exceed $1,500.
McNamara said officers acquired surveillance of Hoeft using the stolen cards at Sunoco. In an interview with police, Bollman admitted he destroyed the credit cards within three days of the theft, McNamara reported.
McNamara said that when questioning Hoeft, confiscated a mirror with suspected cocaine residue on it from inside her apartment on Harrison Avenue
The couple was charged via summons. Preliminary hearings are scheduled June 6.
