A California man is in custody after being involved in a string of thefts from vehicles in Mahanoy City.
According to Mahanoy City Police, the investigation began on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 around 10:00 am, when Mahanoy City Patrolman Matthew Williams received a phone call at the station from someone reporting a theft from their unlocked vehicle in the 500 block of West Market Street.
A review of security camera footage showed a male wearing a multi-colored tie-dye shirt entering the victim's vehicle, rummage through it, then leave without any items.
While at the scene, Williams received a second report from a neighbor in the same block that someone entered their unlocked vehicle and stole diabetic medicine. The 2nd victim reported that around 8:30 am, that morning, the male described in the security camera footage returned to the area and appeared to be intoxicated The victim had asked the male if he had stolen anything from her vehicle, to which replied "No", dropped a small black speaker on the ground, and continued walking down Market Street.
Later that afternoon, the School Resource Officer from Mahanoy Area contacted borough police that a male wearing the clothes matching the description of the male suspect had been hanging around the elementary school. When the officer questioned the male, he identified himself as Seroyozha Stevens, 21, of California, and that he had been at the Silver Pines Treatment Center.
Around 3:00 pm, Mahanoy City Police received an additional report in the 400 Block of West Pine Street where Apple Ear Buds had been stolen from an unlocked vehicle.
On Wednesday evening, around 6:00 pm, while Patrolman Thomas Rentschler was standing outside the police station, Stevens was seen walking on East Pine Street and was asked to come into the station.
Rentschler questioned Stevens to which he said he was homeless and admitted to rummaging through vehicles for items that he could trade for food.
Stevens specifically admitted to taking the earbuds which he traded with someone for food.
Rentschler took Stevens into custody and charged him with theft from a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling at night, and receiving stolen property.
Stevens was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bail.