AKRON, PA — West Earl Township Police arrested an 18-year-old Akron man following an investigation into a series of vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles in the Akron area.
On the morning of Feb. 12, officers responded to multiple reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles in and around Akron Borough.
Among the items stolen were two handguns and an Acer laptop computer.
On Feb. 18, the victim of the stolen laptop contacted police after identifying what he believed to be his device listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
The seller was identified as Naiym Darnell Poles, of Akron.
Further investigation revealed Poles had a prior history of thefts from unlocked vehicles and was out on bail for similar charges in East Lampeter Township stemming from November.
On March 19, police received a report of a 2021 Kia K5 stolen from Akron Borough, which contained a handgun at the time of the theft.
The following day, March 20, officers received a report of another stolen vehicle, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, which was recovered in East Lampeter Township prior to the owner realizing it had been taken.
Detectives obtained search warrants for a residence in East Lampeter Township and Poles’ residence in Akron.
During the execution of the search warrant at the Akron residence, officers recovered stolen items and 240 grams of marijuana.
Detectives Heather Halstead and Justin Cruce charged Poles with five counts of theft by unlawful taking, two counts of criminal attempt theft by unlawful taking, six counts of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of firearms not to be carried without a license, one count of persons not to possess firearms, one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count of possession of marijuana, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of criminal attempt theft from motor vehicle.
Additionally, a 17-year-old juvenile male will be charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of firearms by a minor and firearms not to be carried without a license.
On March 24, Poles was arrested by the East Lampeter Police Department.
Poles was arraigned by Judge Jonathan Heisse and was committed to the Lancaster County Prison on $125,000 bail.
