Using Craig’s List, phony buyers lure sellers to city for theft, say investigators
During the investigation into a theft scheme using Craig’s List, Cpl. Jonathan Shave said victims arranged to come to Coatesville, where they were told they would receive payment for their dirt bikes; instead, the bikes were stolen, police said.
During the course of the investigation, Shave was able to identify James Shelton, 19, and Dashon Loveland, 18, both of Coatesville, as two subjects involved in the thefts, police said. Shelton was accused of being one of the people who stole several of the bikes, while Loveland was found in possession of two of them, police said. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Shave at 610-384-2300.
Both defendants were taken to Chester County Prison to await a Jan. 8 preliminary hearing after failing to post bail, court records said. Bail was set for Shelton at $5,000 cash on charges that include theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and related offenses; Loveland’s bail was 10 percent of $2,500 on charges of receiving stolen property and tampering with records, court records said.
Coatesville Police and EMS personnel responded to a residence in the 1100 block of East Lincoln Highway on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 7:56 p.m. for a cardiac arrest, Officer Guy Bruchstein reported. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Mark Ciarlone, 50, of Coatesville, unconscious but breathing on the floor of his apartment, police said. He was transported to Brandywine Hospital for treatment, and police found several pieces of drug paraphernalia and suspected narcotics in plain view inside the apartment, police said, adding that drug charges were filed in district court.
Edwin Wilcott, 33, of Coatesville, was found staggering in Pearl Alley on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 11:16 p.m., Officer Joe Thompson reported. Police said Wilcott, who was carrying two beers and a glass he took from the Kool Bar, was visibly intoxicated. During a search after his arrest for public drunkenness, Wilcott was determined to be in possession of an unlabeled pill bottle with 45 prescription pills, and 5 Xanax pills, police said, adding that drug charges were also filed.
A criminal-trespass complaint led police to the 300 block East Lincoln Highway on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 9:45 p.m., Officer Carmen Mollichella reported. Upon arrival, the victim said that Carol Davis, 40, of Coatesville, who fled before police arrived, had been asked to leave the property multiple times and kept returning, police said. Police said they mailed a citation for simple trespass to Davis.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Officer Stephen Galletta made contact with a property manager who reported that two windows were broken at a residence in the 500 block of Harmony Street, police said. There was no evidence that anything was taken, but damage was estimated at $350, police said.
State police from the Embreeville barracks said for unknown reasons, a 36-year-old Harleysville man traveled off of U.S. 30 Bypass, west of East Kings Highway, in Caln Township, on Monday, Dec. 16, at 12:09 p.m. Police said Robert R. Davidson was proceeding west on U.S. 30 when his 1999 Hyundai Elantra left the north side of the four-lane, divided highway, impacting a guard rail. Police said Davidson, who was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured, was cited for leaving his lane of travel.
Why people believe that they can get away with theft with the depth of physical and digital forensics available today is beyond me.