A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a homeless man in Pottsville who police say burglarized a downtown business late last year.
Police say they recently received confirmation of DNA evidence proving that Ricardo Hernandez-Maldonado broke into the rear of 102 N. Centre St. in Pottsville on Nov. 26, damaged several coin pusher machines and stole more than $100.
An investigation into a reported burglary and theft at that N. Centre St. address began on Nov. 26. Police say they were contacted by the building’s owner after discovering a window in the back alley of his property had been broken and that one of the coin-operated machines inside had been forced open, with about $100 in change missing.
When police first spoke with the property owner, he told them the break-in appeared to have occurred around 5:30 a.m., though he did not discover it until approximately 1 p.m. that day.
By the time officers arrived, he had boarded up the broken window to prevent anyone from entering. Officers later met the owners at the business, entered through the rear entrance off Logan St., and observed the boarded-up window with glass scattered on the inside—evidence suggesting the break had been made from outside.
Inside, officers found two coin pusher machines that had been damaged.
One, in particular, showed heavy damage along its right side, where police noticed pry marks consistent with the use of a crowbar or similar tool. Loose U.S. coins and bills were scattered on the floor near both machines, though the cash boxes themselves remained inside.
The property owner then showed police security footage recorded from inside the building. The video depicted a smaller-built male wearing a dark mask, dark hoodie, dark pants, white shoes, and carrying a backpack.
The footage – timestamped around 5:30 a.m. and verified to match real time – showed the suspect using a crowbar-type tool to pry open the machine on the right. He then forced open its front panel, gaining access to the coins inside.
The suspect next attempted to break into the second machine on the left but only managed to damage the exterior before prying up its glass and removing coins. Pablani told police the man was not wearing gloves and estimated $100 to $150 had been stolen.
Investigators located handprints and fingerprints on the metal ledges of both machines.
Using sterile swabs, they collected samples for DNA testing. Pablani told police he recognized the suspect’s appearance and footwear, saying he believed the person responsible was Hernandez-Maldonado, 41, who is considered homeless with a last known address in the 1700 block of W. Norwegian St.
Hernandez-Maldonado had reportedly been inside the business roughly three weeks earlier wearing similar white sneakers. The owner also recalled that Hernandez-Maldonado had been asked to leave at that time after kicking the coin pusher machines.
The DNA samples were submitted to the State Police Forensic DNA Division for analysis.
On Dec. 9, 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant to collect a DNA sample from Hernandez-Maldonado, who was then incarcerated at the Schuylkill County Prison. The warrant was approved by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, and the sample was obtained the same day.
Nearly a year later, on Oct. 6, police received the forensic report confirming that the DNA recovered from the damaged coin machine matched the DNA sample collected from Hernandez-Maldonado.
This finding corroborated the business owner’s earlier identification and linked Hernandez-Maldonado to the burglary and theft at 102 North Centre Street.
Police are charging Hernandez-Maldonado with felony burglary and criminal trespass. He’s also being hit with misdemeanors for possessing an instrument of crime, theft, and receiving stolen property.
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