Man Stole $600 in GPS Gadgets, Police Say

Written by Jack Tobias

A Bucks County man was on Hellertown police’s radar twice Sunday night, and it was the second time that led to his arrest and admission that he stole items from vehicles, court records say.

Police charged Timothy Warris, 30, of 12 Church Road, Richlandtown, with breaking into vehicles and stealing $612 worth of GPS units and other devices. They also allegedly found fireworks in a backpack he was carrying.

In the first of their two run-ins with Warris, police released him with the knowledge he had only cash and a cell phone on him.

But when they spotted him shortly before 10:30 p.m. at Main and Durham streets, he was in possession of two Garmin Nuvi GPS devices, a TomTom One XLii GPS, a Duralast jump starter and an Actron CP 9125 PocketScan, the records say.

Warris “openly admitted” to stealing the items from vehicles after leaving police headquarters, according to a criminal complaint filed by borough Patrolman Michael Twerdi.

Police responded to a 10:19 p.m. report of a man wearing a baseball cap and carrying a backpack breaking into vehicles in the area of 105 Penn St.

When they found him a few blocks away at Main and Durham, the backpack was open and contained electronic devices, fireworks and clothing, the complaint says.

Meanwhile, police brought a borough resident to Main and Durham while Warris was in custody. The resident identified Warris as the man he saw breaking into his neighbor’s vehicle.

Warris was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, and loitering and prowling at nighttime. He was arraigned at 4 a.m. Monday by District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.

Online court records show that Warris pleaded guilty in March 2003 to burglary, criminal attempt and criminal solicitation in connection with a suspected arson and burglary in Quakertown.

In September 2010, he pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge in Telford, Bucks County, the online records say.