Wellsboro council told thefts solved

By BRYAN G. ROBINSON Sun-Gazette Correspondent
WELLSBORO — Police recently solved a rash of “smash-and-grab” thefts from cars in the Wellsboro and Mansfield areas, borough council was told Monday.

Borough Police Chief Tom Young said a state trooper caught two suspects on April 30.

Borough police officers also spent much time investigating the thefts, which occurred during April at several locations, Young said.

“One had hands pressed on the windows of a vehicle in one of the parking lots in the borough,” said Young.

“He was trying to see through the tinted windows of the vehicle.”

Charged with theft and criminal mischief, he said, were Matthew Spang and Ryan Mast, both 18, both of Wellsboro.

Charges are pending against a third as-of-yet-unidentified borough resident. Spang was the one caught with his hands on the window, according to the police report.

“It’s a good thing we caught them,” Young said. “It was just escalating and escalating.”

Council also approved an intent to adopt a tax abatement ordinance in the borough in keeping with the Tioga county’s tax abatement ordinance.

The ordinance allow businesses within the commercial business, commercial manufacturing, highway commercial and industrial areas within the borough to receive tax incentives to new and existing businesses for improvements over a five-year period.

The abatement would consist of a 90-percent rebate the first year, followed by 80 percent the second year; 60 percent, year three; 40 percent, year four; and 20 percent, year five.

The full tax would be paid in the sixth and following years.