HARRISBURG, PA — An Indiana County man who used his job as a DoorDash driver to scout homes for theft targets was sentenced Friday to state prison after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in delivered packages from residences across western Pennsylvania.
John D. Manning, 35, admitted earlier this month to felony organized retail theft charges connected to a string of package thefts in Allegheny, Armstrong, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announced. Manning was sentenced by an Indiana County judge to one to three years in state prison, followed by four years of probation.
Prosecutors said Manning exploited his work as a DoorDash driver to identify neighborhoods and homes for later thefts, stealing packages that had already been delivered and selling many of the items online through Facebook Marketplace.
“While delivering meals as a DoorDash driver, this defendant was also scouting neighborhoods and homes for potential theft opportunities, which he later acted upon,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday. “This conviction would not have been possible without the assistance of our law enforcement partners in western Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania State Police.”
Investigators said Manning was caught on home surveillance cameras and confronted by homeowners on multiple occasions. The thefts spanned several counties before police identified him as the suspect.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Patrick Schulte of the Office of Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section.
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