Tyrone Police have arrested a 20-year-old Tyrone woman, Valerie Fleck of 23 W. 14th Street, Apt. 1, for stealing a vehicle from the Tyrone Sheetz parking lot yesterday.
According to a criminal complaint, police viewed a video surveillance tape of the Sheetz parking lot at 1400 Logan Avenue to develop a suspect in the case.
Police also interviewed Fleck’s mother at the Sheetz store and obtained a description of what the woman was wearing. The description matched the woman shown in the video entering a truck and driving from the scene.
The stolen truck was located yesterday afternoon by Tyrone Police in the parking lot of St. Vincent Depaul on Pennsylvania Avenue. Fleck was found inside the business and she was placed into custody and transported to the Tyrone Police department. Fleck was advised of her rights and gave a statement to police that she took the vehicle.
Fleck also admitted to using the victim’s credit card to purchase gas in Altoona and taking money in the truck to purchase items in Altoona. Police said Fleck also said she had smoked crack cocaine.
Fleck was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.
Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem said charges are pending in another stolen vehicle incident that happened at the Tyrone Sheetz earlier this month. The incident happened at 2:17 a.m. on Sept. 10. Chief Beachem said Fleck was arrested in State College that night in the vehicle that was taken earlier in the day from the Tyrone Sheetz. He did not elaborate on why authorities in State College arrested Fleck.
Regarding the charges in yesterday’s case, Fleck was brought before a magisterial district judge for an arraignment. Bail was set at $7,000 straight and Fleck was taken to Blair County Prison. A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 3.
