Sep 25, 2013 2 min read

A man who South Strabane Township police believe was responsible for several thefts this month was nabbed Tuesday morning after another man tried to return items that had been stolen the previous day.

Janathan Jerome Benjamin, 24, was taken into custody after police stopped the van in which he was a passenger shortly after it left the Walmart in Trinity Point.

Police were called just before 11 a.m. by a loss-prevention officer at the store who reported that a man was trying to return the same make and model of routers that had been stolen from the store Monday. The man, identified by police as Sheron Culn, was told he could not return the items without a receipt.

Police said Culn, who was being followed by store security, left the store and got into a van in which Benjamin was a passenger. The van, driven by Darla Nixon, pulled into a nearby lot as police observed. When the van pulled out of that lot, police pulled behind the vehicle. Nixon then made a quick turn into another parking lot. Police said they could see the routers on the back seat of the van. Walmart loss-prevention officers came to the parking lot and identified him as the theft suspect. Benjamin is accused of stealing three video surveillance systems from the store Sept. 10; three routers Sept. 15; and routers, speakers and two surveillance systems Sept. 20, in addition to the four routers Monday. The stolen items are valued at $3,385.

Benjamin, who police said is homeless, told officers that he took a bus to this area a few weeks ago from South Carolina. Police are continuing their investigation.

Benjamin was arraigned before District Judge Valarie Costanzo on four counts of retail theft. He was placed in Washington County jail on $20,000 bond.