Old Lycoming Township police were assisted by a group of onlookers when an admitted heroin addict allegedly stole a woman's wallet out of her vehicle on Wednesday at a gas station along Dewey Avenue.
Kyle Crain, who is homeless, according to police, has been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, theft from a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and access device fraud.
According to police, the female victim, who was not named, reported her wallet stolen from her unlocked vehicle when she entered the gas station. She noticed the wallet missing several minutes later.
The victim noticed Crain in the parking lot, told him of the theft and asked to look in his backpack.
"No one is looking in my backpack," Crain said, according to police.
The victim called officers to the scene as Crain fled from the parking lot. She proceeded to chase him.
The chase was noticed by a group of people, who captured Crain and held him until police arrived.
Officers searched the man's backpack and allegedly found the victim's credit cards, as well as a hypodermic needle and marijuana pipe.
Crain allegedly told officers that he had stolen the woman's wallet "because he was homeless and a heroin addict," according to a news release.
He subsequently showed police where he had hidden the wallet and another credit card stolen from the victim.
Crain already had used one of the woman's credit cards twice, according to police.
He was arraigned before District Judge James H. Sortman and was incarcerated in lieu of $9,000 bail.
