Contractor Found Stolen Tools on Craigslist: Police

A contractor who had his tools stolen from a South Bethlehem work site last week found them for sale on Craigslist, Bethlehem police said.

On Wednesday, an alleged thief was arrested after an officer posing as a potential buyer confirmed that the tools for sale were the same that had been stolen.

Angel Manuel Silva, 21, of 329 Church St., Catasauqua, was charged with burglary, theft and other related counts.

According to court papers, the contractor found that his tools—a $300 miter saw, a $100 air compressor, a $150 table saw and a $120 nail gun—had been stolen from a house at 506 Sioux St. on the morning of March 27.

The contractor, who was performing renovations on the home, told police that he found a Craigslist ad describing similar tools for sale, the affidavit said. The contractor responded to the ad and was told to come look at the tools at 508 Sioux St., which is next door to the work site.

Then according to court papers:

• Arresting Officer Gregory Huff went undercover to meet with the Craigslist advertiser. Huff wrote that the tools shown to him by Silva matched the descriptions provided by the victim.
• During the meeting, Silva was accompanied by a 16-year-old girl who told Huff that the tools had belonged to her grandfather, who had recently died.
• Other Bethlehem police officers responded to the scene and arrested Silva and the girl. The contractor was shown the tools and confirmed that they were his.
• During an interview at Bethlehem Police headquarters, Silva admitted to entering 506 Sioux St., stealing the tools and storing them at 508 Sioux St.
• Police on Wednesday also recovered from 508 Sioux St. a cell phone that had been stolen from one of the contractor’s employees who had left it on the front porch of 506 Sioux St.
• The girl told police that she is dating Silva and that he encouraged her to “go along with everything he said” about the stolen tools.

In addition to burglary and theft, Silva was charged with criminal trespass, receiving stolen property and corruption of minors. He was arraigned before night duty District Judge David Tidd of Lower Saucon Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail.