HARRISBURG POLICE MAKE MULTIPLE ARRESTS IN CAR THEFT SCHEME INVOLVING SCRAP YARD TOW TRUCKS
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today said that Harrisburg Police have made multiple arrests in connection with a car theft scheme that was orchestrated by several individuals over the course of the past two months. The scheme involved stealing vehicles by towing them from lots and streets and selling them for scrap value.
Reed said police have arrested James A. Sprenkle, 45, of the 1300 block of S. 19th Street, and have charged him with 10 counts of theft by unlawful taking. Reed also said police have charged Troy E. Grissinger, 24, of the 200 block of Church Road in Lewisberry, PA, who is being sought, and have arrested Darryl Moore, 47, of no fixed address, in connection with the scheme. Grissinger is charged with five counts of theft by unlawful taking and Moore is charged with one count of the same.
Reed said that on Monday, August 4, 2008, Sprenkle orchestrated the stealing and towing of eight vehicles from an auto lot in the 1100 block of S. Cameron Street. Sprenkle allegedly contacted a towing vendor, Grissinger, and had him tow five of the vehicles to a scrap yard in exchange for $470.00. Two of the vehicles have since been recovered and it is believed the other six vehicles were crushed.
During police interviews, Sprenkle admitted to having also stolen a vehicle on Monday, March 24, 2008, from the area of S. 16th and Putnam Streets. Sprenkle allegedly stole the vehicle and contacted an unidentified tow truck driver who towed the vehicle for scrap in exchange for $125.00 cash. Again, Sprenkle had no legal right to have the vehicle towed.
Sprenkle also admitted to stealing a vehicle on Thursday, July 3, 2008, from the 300 block of S. 13th Street, and two vehicles from a parking lot in the 600 block of S. 17th Street, and having them illegally towed by a scrap tow truck driver in exchange for $225.00 and $100.00, respectively.
Throughout the investigation, police also identified Moore as having stolen a vehicle on Thursday, September 4, 2008, from the area of S. 16th and Putnam Streets. He allegedly contacted multiple tow truck drivers in the area and insisted he was willing to sell the stolen vehicle for scrap. Upon being informed of his efforts, police arrested Moore and charged him in connection with the scheme.
"This was a brazen effort to take other people’s cars for quick cash and was facilitated by getting a tow truck operator to take the vehicles and pay him cash," Reed said.
Anyone with additional information on these or other similar car theft schemes, or who has information as to the whereabouts of Troy Grissinger, is urged to confidentially call Harrisburg Police at (717) 255-3131.
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