With help from Crime Stoppers and a confidential source, Penn State Police Services arrested two men Friday for the mid-March vandalism and thefts from more than 30 vehicles in Lot 83 North.

The men, who are not affiliated with Penn State University, are from Huntingdon County. They are identified as Jeremy J. Claar, 21, of Alexandria, Pa., and Derek M. Otter, 19, of Mill Creek, Pa.

Both men were arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Friday before District Justice Bradley P. Lunsford. Each faces identical charges. They are: 19 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, 19 counts of receiving stolen property, 34 counts of criminal mischief, 34 counts of institutional vandalism, 1 count of arson and 1 count of criminal conspiracy.

From estimates obtained from the victims, a total of $11,386 in property was taken from the vehicles and an additional $13,452 worth of damage was done to the vehicles.

Most of the stolen items included stereo equipment, said university police officer Thomas Sowerby. Other items include cell phones and deer spotters.

"The motive was for equipment and money," Sowerby said, adding the men planned to sell the stolen property.

Sowerby said Penn State police were able to develop information about the incident through Crime Stoppers and from tips given by a confidential source.

"One interesting thing that this investigation revealed was that they (Claar and Otter) saw one of our police vehicles in the lot, but they were able to hide within the vehicles," Sowerby said. "The investigation also revealed a person had seen and spoken to the men."

Claar and Otter said a man came up to them when they were under his car and asked them what they were doing. Police are looking for that man to serve as a possible witness and hope he comes forward.

According to the police affidavit, police were dispatched to parking lot 83 North to a reported car fire on March 15. Upon arriving, police discovered a blue 1989 Subaru "fully engulfed in flames."

While officers investigated the fire, other officers searched the parking lot and "located 31 other vehicles that either had windows smashed, door locks pried or, in the case of Jeeps, had their soft tops cut," according to the affidavit.

On March 29, a confidential source contacted police and said two individuals from Huntingdon County were responsible for the thefts from the vehicles. The source also said the men were responsible for the car fire, according to the affidavit.

Officer Thomas Sowerby and Investigator Ronald Schreffler interviewed Claar on March 29, and he agreed to talk to the officers. According to the affidavit, he acknowledged on tape that he and Otter were responsible for breaking into more than 30 vehicles in parking lot 83 North.

Claar said he and Otter used a screwdriver to pry the locks and porcelain to break the windows.

The car fire resulted during their attempts to break into it, said Sowerby. Claar stated in his interview, "One of the vehicles, a Subaru, was smoking, and I thought it was going to catch on fire."

Claar also said he used a utility knife to cut the soft-tops on a couple of Jeeps to gain entry. Then the stolen property was loaded into his vehicle and taken to his residence, at which time he and Otter divided the property, according to the affidavit.

Police recovered nearly all of the stolen property taken during the incident. It was found at the residences of Claar and Otter, Sowerby said.

"We hope to work with the district attorney and return the stolen items to the victims," Sowerby said. The property appears to be in good condition and looks like it was taken care of, he said.

Claar and Otter were committed to Centre County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for both men for 9 a.m. Wednesday at Centre County Courthouse.