Two men from Berks County have been charged in connection with an attempted burglary at a Pottsville business late last year.
City police have filed charges against Daniel Velez, 42, of Reading, and Hector Rivera-Aleman, 57, of Wyomissing in connection with an attempted burglary at Quick Mart 61 (formerly the Brok-Sel along Route 61) on Dec. 30.
Velez is charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit burglary. Rivera-Aleman has been charged with a felony count of attempted burglary and a misdemeanor count of attempted criminal mischief.
Police say they responded to a glass break alarm at the Quick Mart at about 3 a.m. that morning. As they arrived at the scene, officers say they found a shattered glass door on the north side of the building.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows a man – later identified as Rivera-Aleman – walking into the parking lot and striking the glass twice, police say. The impact shattered the door and triggered the store’s audible alarm, prompting Rivera-Aleman to flee toward the back of the building.
Police allege Velez was the getaway driver, behind the wheel of a silver Acura SUV that dropped Rivera-Aleman off near Mauch Chunk and S. Jackson streets at 2:49 a.m. Minutes later, at 2:56 a.m., cameras captured Velez returning to the intersection, where the man walked back and got inside, police say.
The SUV was then recorded driving to the 7-Eleven just up the road from Quick Mart. At 3:01 a.m., police say Velez, wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants, was recorded on camera shopping inside the store before returning to the vehicle and driving away.
License plate readers in Tilden Township, Berks County, recorded the Acura traveling north on Route 61 at 2:17 a.m. and south at 3:26 a.m., which police say is consistent with the timeline of the alleged incident in Pottsville. Police used this tracking information to positively identify Velez as the driver.
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of both Velez and Rivera-Aleman.
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