A Williamstown man was jailed Monday charged with breaking into and stealing items from the D.G. Yuengling & Son brewery gift shop on Mahantongo Street over the weekend.
Pottsville police Capt. Richard Wojciechowsky said Jose Omar Vasquez, 32, was arrested after police learned he was hiding in a building at 222 Harrison St. in the city.
Vasquez was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass, all felony offenses, as well as a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief.
Wojciechowsky said the burglary occurred about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, a confidential source gave police information about the crime.
Officers contacted Yueng-ling officials, who then discovered the burglary and reported about $3,000 missing.
During the investigation Sunday into Monday, Wojciechowsky said police collected evidence and spoke to residents and learned that Vasquez allegedly committed the theft Saturday night and went to a home at 512 Howard Ave.
Wojciechowsky said a witness at the house saw Vasquez counting the cash he had allegedly stolen and he was also consolidating the contents of several bank envelopes from the gift shop.
Other information revealed Vasquez had stolen cash and a bank envelope later Saturday night at 1136 W. Norwegian St., Apt. 2, and also at 222 Harrison St. Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Wojciechowsky said officers spoke with several witnesses who reported Vasquez told them he committed the Yuengling burglary and also confirmed they saw him use the stolen money to make transactions several times between the time of the burglary and Sunday evening.
After Vasquez was arrested, Wojciechowsky said officers searched the home at 512 Howard Ave. and recovered four bank envelopes from the gift shop.
Wojciechowsky also said the investigation into the theft is continuing and several pieces of DNA are being analyzed at the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.
Charges are pending against other people who helped Vasquez either during the burglary or after the crime was committed, Wojciechowsky said.
Vasquez was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.