UPPER CHICHESTER TWP, PA — Two men are facing charges after police said they posed as utility workers while allegedly stealing cable from a utility pole before fleeing the area Monday morning.
According to the Upper Chichester Township Police Department, officers responded at approximately 10:30 a.m. April 6 to the 3100 block of Meetinghouse Road for a report of a theft in progress involving Verizon wire.
Police reported that a witness observed two males allegedly removing cable from a utility pole while posing as workers and then fleeing in a red Dodge Ram with Delaware registration.
According to investigators, officers used license plate reader technology to track the vehicle toward Delaware. A detective later located the suspects allegedly cutting additional cable, and with assistance from partner agencies, the vehicle was stopped shortly afterward.
Authorities said both suspects, identified as 32-year-old Ryan Gabbert and 32-year-old Lawrence Holmes, were taken into custody without incident and were still wearing reflective gear at the time.
Police reported that multiple sections of alleged stolen Verizon cable were recovered from the vehicle.
According to authorities, both men were turned over to Delaware State Police, and charges are pending in multiple jurisdictions.
Police said Gabbert and Holmes have been charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and theft of secondary metal.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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