May 28, 2014 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Morgantown, W.Va., man was arrested by Waynesburg Borough police after allegedly stealing property from unlocked vehicles on Waynesburg’s North Side Sunday and Monday.

Sanford Warren Guthrie, 36, of 512 Beulah Road, was charged Monday with three counts each of theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. He was placed in Greene County jail on $1,000 bond and faces a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. today before District Judge Lee Watson.

None of the vehicles Guthrie allegedly entered was locked, said patrolman Shawn Wood, the arresting officer. He urged residents to lock their vehicles; otherwise, he said, “you make yourself an easy victim.”

Wood said he was called to Ross Street Monday morning for reports of property stolen from two vehicles owned by Debbie Rohanna and Ethan Virgili. Sunglasses, a backpack containing clothing and a box of plastic silage wrap were among the stolen items.

Later that day, Wood said he was stopped by another Ross Street resident who reported a man he knew only as “Sammy” was staying at his house and had been acting suspiciously, going out at night and returning with property.

The property included a backpack and sunglasses that fit the description of the stolen items, Wood said.

Police went to the man’s house and found the box of silage wrap on the porch. Wood said he was invited inside and found Guthrie sitting on the couch. In plain view were the backpack, sunglasses and other items reported stolen, he said.

Additional items were later found at the house and included a global positioning system that had been stolen from a car on Fourth Avenue.

That theft was reported by Ashley Rice.

Wood said they also found additional property in Guthrie’s possession that may have been stolen from other vehicles. During the weekend, Waynesburg police had received reports of six thefts from motor vehicles in the same area of Waynesburg. The value of the stolen property was estimated at $1,300.