PENNSYLVANIA AUTOSHOP DEALER COMPUTER THIEVES ARRESTED Fulton County News:
Va. Men Nabbed In Burglaries

Thomas dealership struck in burglaries spanning four county area

11/22/06
By Chanin Rotz-Mountz
STAFF WRITER
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Pennsylvania State Police investigators laid to a rest a year-long investigation into a series of auto dealership burglaries last week with two Virginia men awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Investigating officer Trooper M.B. Gordon, McConnellsburg, filed 28 charges against Curtis Edward Allen, 26, of Winchester and Stephens City resident Jarret Thomas Mann,19, on Friday, November 17, through the office of Magisterial District Judge Wendy Mellott. The two men are currently being held in the Shenandoah County Jail in Woodstock, Va., awaiting extradition.

Charges against both men include eight counts of burglary, nine counts of theft, 10 counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal trespassing in connection with the break-ins between September 14 and November 28, 2005. The burglaries reportedly occurred at six automobile dealerships located in Fulton, Franklin, Adams and Cumberland counties. Several of the dealerships were targeted by Mann and Allen repeatedly.

In affidavits of probable cause and criminal complaints filed against Trooper Gordon, state police related the initial burglary occurred between 9 p.m. on September 14 and 7 a.m. on September 15, 2005, at Renn Kirby Chevrolet located at 791 York Road, Adams County. The men reportedly entered the dealership by breaking a bathroom window. Once inside, Mann and Allen removed keys to six different vehicles and a 2006 Pontiac GTO valued at $32,295.

Days later, the duo allegedly targeted Davidson Motors, 720 Biglerville Road, Adams County. Mann and Allen entered the facility after removing an air conditioner and then stole money, desk-top computer parts and a 2005 Ford Mustang GT valued at $28,000.

Between 9:30 a.m. on September 18 and 7 a.m. on September 19, the burglars returned to the Renn Kirby dealership to take numerous tools, auto parts, three desk-top computer hard drives, 16 transit tags and a HP digital camera.

Keystone Ford located at 301 South Antrim Way in Greencastle was the next victim between September 23-24. The rear door of the building was pried open and approximately 40 Pennsylvania registration plates were removed from one of the offices. The duo returned to the Franklin County business between September 25-26 and stole a black 2006 Ford 500 sedan, six Acer laptop computers and various auto parts.

Believing third time was a charm, Mann and Allen struck Keystone Ford a third time on October 5 at 1:48 p.m., triggering an automatic security alarm. The alarm had been installed after the two previous burglaries, Trooper Gordon added, causing the men to flee.

Trooper Gordon elaborated the follow-up break-in reportedly occurred at Interstate Ford, 196 Walnut Bottom Road, Cumberland County, between October 7 and 8. Among the items taken, after forcing open a door, was a 1993 Ford Mustang and numerous desk-top computers.

Mann and Allen made their first visit to Fulton County between 9 p.m. on October 11 and 7 a.m. on October 12, 2005, at the Thomas Dealership located just north of McConnellsburg. A 2005 Chevrolet SSR truck, several sets of keys to other vehicles parked on the dealership’s lot, three registration plates and auto parts were removed during the burglary. Nearly one month later, the duo returned to the Todd Township-based dealership with one of the missing keys and drove away in a 2006 Ford F-250 truck.

The final burglary occurred on November 28, 2005, between 1:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. at Hicks Chevrolet in Greencastle. A 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was taken as were 40 temporary Pennsylvania vehicle registration plates and a large steel safe containing $300. Entry was gained to the dealership through an exit door in the garage area.

Gordon concluded the men are responsible for stealing $276,000 in property during the burglaries. In March of 2006, the Woodstock Police Department in Virginia in a cooperative effort with state police arrested Mann and Allen. A search of their residences and a storage facility jointly shared by the men turned up the 2006 Pontiac GTO, the 2005 Ford Mustang GT, a 1993 Ford Mustang, a 2005 Chevrolet SSR truck and a 2006 Ford F-250. Various computers and registration plates were also located.