Credit: Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
A Croydon man is facing charges after authorities say he stole 31 work trucks and took tools from another 19 in Philadelphia.
David Zagami, 38, of Filbert Street in Croydon is charged with 56 counts theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of a crime and conspiracy.
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According to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, the 38-year-old Bristol Township man stole 31 work vans and pickup trucks from Northeast Philadelphia, emptied all the vehicle’s hand and power tools, ladders, electronic equipment and other construction equipment before dumping the vans near his Croydon home.
Officials in the district attorney’s office said all the stolen vehicles had consistent lock and ignition damage.
Zagami also is accused of taking equipment from 19 work vans and various buildings in the city, authorities said.
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Police said they believe the thefts started last July and were making between $400 to $600 dollars per a truck for Zagama. The crime wave stopped in January, officials said.
Philadelphia police Sgt. Paul Lorenzo told 6abc the total value of the thefts is suspected to be approximately $750,000.
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Authorities also said Eric Guerra Chacon, 37, of Louden Street in Philadelphia, received the stolen tools and equipment from Zagami and was attempting to sell it.
He turned himself in on Friday and is facing 56 charges of receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Bristol Township police first acknowledged they were investigating the abandon work vans being left abandon in Croydon during the fall. Bensalem and the Philadelphia Police Department’s Major Crimes Auto Squad also took part in the investigation.
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“Zagami targeted small contractors and when he stole their vans and equipment he literally stole their livelihood,” District Attorney Seth Williams said in a statement. “Numerous families had to struggle to make ends meet because of Zagami’s cold and calculated actions, and I commend the police for their excellent work in finding him.”
The Croydon man was arrest by local police in March on several charges of theft connected with vehicle thefts that happened in Lower Bucks County. He bailed himself out from that arrest after several days in jail.
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Zagami arraigned Tuesday in Philadelphia and is being held on $1.1 million bail.
Guerra is currently being held in jail on a Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.
