A mechanic in Schuylkill County is accused of accepting $7,000 to replace the engine in a 2014 Ford F-150 but never ordering the part.
Matthew Yulick, 36, from outside Summit Station and the owner of the now-defunct M.Y. Mechanic Auto Repair in Cass Township, is facing felony theft and receiving stolen property charges.
Police say Yulick took cash from a customer to replace their pickup engine and a install twin turbocharger but failed to complete the major repairs before being evicted from his garage.
According to court records, the investigation began on Aug. 26 when the truck’s owner contacted State Police to report a theft.
The truck owner told police he originally paid Yulick to replace the engine in the Ford F-150 in 2022. That engine failed approximately two months later. He returned the truck to Yulick’s shop on Valley Rd. in March 2023 for repairs.
Police say Yulick kept the truck for an extended period, initially claiming he was attempting to have the replacement covered by a warranty company. Approximately one year later, Yulick reportedly told the vehicle owner the warranty claim was denied and he’d be responsible for the cost.
The owner reportedly gave Yulick $7,000 in cash. Yulick allegedly claimed the engine would arrive in three weeks.
On Aug. 5, the owner was contacted by Trail Towing.
The owner of the towing company reportedly informed the pickup’s owner that M.Y. Mechanic Auto Repair was no longer in business and that he was attempting to return vehicles left on the property. Trail Towing’s owner reportedly told police he had evicted Yulick from the garage approximately one month prior.
The F-150 was towed back to the owner’s residence on Aug. 14.
The owner of Trail Towing reportedly informed the pickup’s owner that he had heard the new engine was never ordered.
The pickup’s owner contacted Yulick on Aug. 26 to inform him he was calling law enforcement. Police say Yulick called back and admitted he did not have the money to “make this right” because he was paying legal fees.
Yulick also reportedly claimed he had ordered the engine but it never shipped. He allegedly told the vehicle’s owner that the supplier reimbursed him, but he never returned the money.
Yulick did say the twin turbocharger had been installed in the truck.
Police say they also interviewed a former employee of Yulick’s. He reportedly told investigators that Yulick instructed him to collect the $7,000 in cash from the pickup’s owner for the new engine. He also confirmed he collected the money and gave it to Yulick, but stated he knew the engine was never ordered.
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