MOUNT CARMEL - Two men were charged with stealing a vehicle in Mount Carmel Wednesday to help a juvenile escape probation officers.
Police charged Jamie M. Giffin, 34, of 58 Fishers Court, Danville, and Timothy J. Stephens, 26, of 861 Kimmerlings Road, Lebanon, with criminal conspiracy to commit theft, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night following the theft of a vehicle on South Orange Street.
After police received the report on the stolen vehicle, a 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor, from Edward Kopchak, the vehicle's owner, officers turned to a local business that had surveillance cameras set up in the area.
Video from the camera showed four individuals, three males and a female. Further review by police showed Giffin walking up to the vehicle and getting in through the passenger side, and then entering the driver's side and rummaging around before starting the vehicle and fleeing the scene.
At the time the investigation was going on, a juvenile probation officer went to a Mount Carmel residence to check on a 17-year-old male when an individual there told him that the male left with Giffin, Stephens and a female. The individual, who is not charged in the case, said they mentioned about "getting the right car to roll out" and that the juvenile was on the run from probation, and heading for the Lebanon area.
Police had the individual review the tape and identified all four individuals, including Stephens and Giffin.
Stephens and Giffin were taken into custody and arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones. They were placed in Northumberland County Prison on $50,000 bail. Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for Wednesday before Jones.
A constable said Friday that the juvenile was also taken to custody, but he is still searching for the female.
