A Pennsylvania man found an alternative to buying tires for his car, according to police. He came to Statesboro and stole them from similar vehicles parked at local businesses.
Frederick Gerald Trunzo Jr., 40, Lenner Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA, was charged with theft by taking motor vehicle parts Tuesday after Statesboro Police apprehended him driving his Dodge Stratus, said Capt. L. C. Williams, Statesboro Police Criminal Investigations Division commander.
Officers responded to two calls Tuesday regarding a single tire stolen from two separate vehicles - both of them being a Dodge Stratus, he said.
One victim was parked at Lowe's on Northside Drive while the other victim's car was parked at Wal-Mart, he said.
Each victim told police someone removed a tire and rim from their car. One woman said her car was missing the rear tire, while the second victim said her front tire and rim was missing, according to incident reports.
Statesboro Police Det. Terry Briley was called to investigate the thefts. After gathering evidence, Briley posted a lookout for a suspect vehicle believed to be a Dodge Stratus.
Soon, Jenkins County Sheriff' deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers located a suspicious vehicle near the Jenkins-Bulloch county line that matched the make of the one Briley sought, Williams said.
Finding evidence linking one occupant to the tire and wheel thefts, Briley arrested Trunzo, charging him with two felony counts of theft by taking motor vehicle parts. A second occupant of the vehicle, whom police did not identify, was released without charges, he said.
After being taken to the Bulloch County Jail, Briley discovered Trunzo was also wanted by Florida officials, he said.
Williams said the stolen tires and rims were returned to owners. Trunzo remained Thursday in the Bulloch County Jail without bond, according to jail records.
Frederick Gerald Trunzo Jr., 40, Lenner Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA, was charged with theft by taking motor vehicle parts Tuesday after Statesboro Police apprehended him driving his Dodge Stratus, said Capt. L. C. Williams, Statesboro Police Criminal Investigations Division commander.
Officers responded to two calls Tuesday regarding a single tire stolen from two separate vehicles - both of them being a Dodge Stratus, he said.
One victim was parked at Lowe's on Northside Drive while the other victim's car was parked at Wal-Mart, he said.
Each victim told police someone removed a tire and rim from their car. One woman said her car was missing the rear tire, while the second victim said her front tire and rim was missing, according to incident reports.
Statesboro Police Det. Terry Briley was called to investigate the thefts. After gathering evidence, Briley posted a lookout for a suspect vehicle believed to be a Dodge Stratus.
Soon, Jenkins County Sheriff' deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers located a suspicious vehicle near the Jenkins-Bulloch county line that matched the make of the one Briley sought, Williams said.
Finding evidence linking one occupant to the tire and wheel thefts, Briley arrested Trunzo, charging him with two felony counts of theft by taking motor vehicle parts. A second occupant of the vehicle, whom police did not identify, was released without charges, he said.
After being taken to the Bulloch County Jail, Briley discovered Trunzo was also wanted by Florida officials, he said.
Williams said the stolen tires and rims were returned to owners. Trunzo remained Thursday in the Bulloch County Jail without bond, according to jail records.