Man who stole SUV from gas station turns himself in
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 24, 2022) – A Cleveland-area man has apparently confessed to stealing an SUV from a New Philadelphia gas station earlier this week.
Sgt. David Morris says he got a call Wednesday evening from a sheriff’s sergeant in Lake County saying the man walked into their station and told them he took the vehicle, which the owner had left running and unlocked in the Sheetz parking lot around 7 am Monday.
“I actually asked if the guy said why he stole it and he really didn’t give a good answer why he decided to take the vehicle or why he was even down here in New Philadelphia because the suspect is actually from the Cleveland area. “
The man then led deputies to the vehicle he claimed to have stolen.
“Probably about 30 minutes later, I got a call back from the same sergeant saying that they had located the vehicle; that it was, in fact, our vehicle; and that they were just going to go ahead and hold him on receiving stolen property charges.”
Morris says the suspect could still be charged for stealing the vehicle, although that will be up to the prosecutor’s office since the charge he’s facing in Lake County carries the same penalties. The owner has been contacted and is making arrangements to pick up the vehicle, which Morris was told is undamaged and in good condition.