Four friends who allegedly worked together to break into and steal items from several vehicles in State College were arrested and committed to Centre County Prison last week.
The State College Police Department said Nicholas Schreiner, 18, Melissa Colby, 22, Paul C. Johnson, 18, and Christopher Riddle-Hatcher, 19 -- all of State College -- are accused of taking numerous items from parked cars between July and December.
The items include wallets, cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, CD players, a gun and other items from the inside of the vehicles.
When interviewed by police, Schreiner outlined the group's system: He, along with either Riddle-Hatcher or Johnson, would scour the State College area between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. for unlocked cars. Once found, they would steal items from the vehicles, and Colby would take them back to her basement apartment on the 600 block of West College Avenue.
According to court documents, Schreiner told police that he stole from about 100 to 150 unlocked vehicles. Johnson, however, said he participated in the thefts of only about 30 to 40 vehicles. Colby said she was with the men but denied stealing anything from the cars.
Police said they received 16 reports of car theft believed to be in connection with the suspects.
The group was discovered when Schreiner sent a text message and called one of the stolen cell phones, police said. The victim had since bought a new phone but was still using her old number.
The victim reported the call to police, who located Schreiner at his apartment on West College Avenue.
Police obtained a search warrant after knocking on the door of the apartment and noticing a water bong inside. Upon searching, they found and seized 54 of the stolen items from Schreiner and Colby's room.
Police said Colby was living with Schreiner, her boyfriend, in the apartment. Johnson and Riddle-Hatcher didn't have a residence but would stay at Colby and Schreiner's often.
Once in custody, Schreiner admitted to also slashing the tires of nine vehicles near the area of West College Avenue between Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, police said. The damage is valued at $1,417 and carries a criminal mischief charge.
For the thefts, Schreiner is charged with 17 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, 17 counts of receiving stolen property and one count of criminal conspiracy.
He was originally incarcerated in lieu of $9,000 bail; however, he posted bail and was released from Centre County Prison on Feb. 1.
Riddle-Hatcher is charged with 15 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, 15 counts of receiving stolen property and one count of criminal conspiracy. He remains in Centre County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.
Johnson is charged with 15 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, 15 counts of receiving stolen property and one count of criminal conspiracy. He is being held in Centre County Prison in lieu of $57,500 bail.
Colby is charged with 11 counts of receiving stolen property, one count of theft from a motor vehicle and one count of criminal conspiracy. She remains in Centre County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.
