Two Accused In Large Thefts Of Batteries & Engine Parts From Truck Lot

Thefts from a commercial truck yard in Falls Township’s Morrisville section have prompted the arrest of a King of Prussia woman while a Levittown man remains at large.

According to Falls police, the two met with the owner of a yard used for the storage of commercial Exhaust & Intake trucks early Tuesday morning. The owner of the yard reported that over the last few weeks he has been the victim of thefts of batteries and engine parts from his commercial trucks.

The yard owner told police that he had placed motion activated trail cameras out to catch the suspects and had caught the same individual several times. The subject photographed had been known to others working in the yard as “Manny” and ran a power washing business. He previously had done work in the yard, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Early Tuesday morning, one of the victim’s employees interrupted “Manny” as he was allegedly engaged in the theft of more batteries from vehicles. While “Manny” ran off, he left behind his alleged accomplice – identified as Diana McDermott, 38, of King of Prussia.

Police spoke with McDermott, who was still on the scene in her vehicle which had been photographed at the scene during previous thefts. McDermott informed police that “Manny” was a friend and that she didn’t know his last name. She stated that she did not know they were stealing batteries and claimed they were instead just “picking up scrap.” McDermott gave police the man’s backpack, which contained identification.

Three vials of suspected marijuana were also found inside the bag, police said.

Manuel Rosario Jr., 40, of Levittown, was the man whose identification was found and a warrant was filed against him.

A record check showed contact had been made with Rosario at the commercial truck lot back in October for a civil dispute over power washing equipment, police said.

The owner of the lot informed officers that the thefts have involved roughly 50 vehicles, 100 batteries at $125 each and truck parts valued at roughly $10,000. The business owner estimated the total value of the thefts had been at least $20,000 in parts and a yet to be determined cost in damage to the vehicle’s wiring and engines.

McDermott and Rosario have been charged with three theft related felonies, a drug-related misdemeanor and a summary charge for trespassing. McDermott was arraigned and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $200,000 while Rosario has yet to be taken into custody.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.