A Schuylkill County man faces felony charges after police say he stole construction materials from an East Brunswick Township property and fled from the scene on an ATV.
Chad Belsak, 50, of New Ringgold, was charged earlier this month with first-degree felony burglary, third-degree felony criminal trespass, and first-degree misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking.
On the morning of March 25, State Police responded to a burglary report at a residence on E. Schmaltzdahl Rd. Upon arrival, police found a damaged generator on the side of the driveway with drag marks leading into the home.
Two victims told police they were alerted by their trail cameras around 7 a.m. to a man on an ATV at the property.
One victim arrived at the location while the suspect was still present. The victim told police the man fled east on his ATV down E. Schmaltzdahl Rd., and the victim followed him into New Ringgold on E. Railroad St. The suspect then drove through an alley and a residential yard before returning to E. Railroad St. and heading south toward Pine Valley Rd., the victim told police.
The victim described the suspect to police as a white male with a beard who was wearing a reflective hunting jacket.
The victims told police that several items were taken from the property, including a roll of 10/3 wire valued at $500, a roll of 14/2 wire valued at $100, thermostat wire valued at $290, a condensate pump valued at $145, and a camera stolen from inside the garage.
At approximately 10 p.m. that evening, a victim told police they had received social media messages about the incident containing a photograph of the suspect and the ATV. The victim told police the man in the photo was Belsak, confirming he was the same man they had followed that morning.
Police apprehended Belsak on outstanding county bench warrants during a routine patrol early in the morning on March 27.
Following the arrest, police interviewed a witness who confirmed traveling on E. Schmaltzdahl Rd. occasionally. The witness told police, “He told me something happened last night,” and when asked to elaborate, the witness told police Belsak said, “something about a generator.”
When police asked the witness if Belsak had stolen anything from the house being built, the witness stated, “He tried. I think he tried.”
The witness further told police, “I know he tried taking something and it didn’t work, and some guy was after him.”
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