Jan 16, 2014 3 min read

A Charleroi woman was arrested Wednesday by Charleroi Regional police after she allegedly admitted to stealing items from about 20 vehicles parked in the borough over the last two months.

Police said Colleen Snyder, 22, of 97 Prospect Ave., had been spotted in at least two vehicles Tuesday night, including one outside 434 Oakland Ave. A resident called police and told them he spotted a woman inside his vehicle and that his brother was chasing her.

Ivan Diaz told police a thin, white, younger woman wearing a blue hooded shirt had been inside the vehicle. When he spotted her, she ran down the street and went in between houses toward an alley. He identified her as Snyder and said she also had been in a neighbor’s vehicle.

Police checked the area and found a pink cotton glove on the sidewalk, as well as a digital camera. The trunk of a car parked in front of 824 Oakland also was open. Nothing was stolen from that vehicle or the neighbor’s car.

Police went to Snyder’s home. They said Snyder was in her bedroom, wearing sweatpants that were covered in mud and wet, and a long-sleeved T-shirt that also was wet. Police said they also found a blue hooded sweatshirt with wet sleeves. Snyder denied stealing the camera but said she stole a GPS, according to police.

Snyder allegedly told police she would leave her home between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. and go to Oakland Avenue, where she would walk down the sidewalk checking for unlocked car doors. When she found an unlocked door, she would look inside for money. Snyder said she found only between $60 and $70 in vehicles over the past few months, police said.

After giving her statement Tuesday, Snyder was released from custody and told that police were going to continue the investigation.

Later, a person came to the station and told police Snyder gave them items that the person believed were stolen. Police said the person, who turned over a GPS and portable DVD player, wished to remain anonymous.

Snyder returned to the police station Wednesday and was questioned further. She allegedly admitted to stealing from vehicles on Crest, Meadow, Shady and Oakland avenues. Police said Snyder gave them a statement admitting to stealing from about 20 vehicles over the past two months.

Snyder was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on 10 counts of theft from a vehicle, seven counts of receiving stolen property, four counts of loitering and prowling at night and one count of public drunkenness. She was placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 27 before District Judge Larry Hopkins.