A Schuylkill County man is facing a misdemeanor charge after police say he failed to pay more than $700 for a January fuel oil delivery, allegedly ordering the fuel under a false last name.
He is accused of owing $704.74 to a Tamaqua-based fuel company. Police say the Jan. 19 delivery to a Clamtown Road residence was made under the name “Vincent Bosel.”
According to police, a representative from the fuel company reported the suspected theft on March 19 after a credit card used to pay for the delivery failed to process. The company had sent a letter to “Vincent Bosel” on March 2 and refused an offer from the man’s girlfriend to make a partial payment, police say.
Police say they could not locate a “Vincent Bosel” in state records. To crack the case, investigators had to go deeper to find out what kind of man they were dealing with.
While police didn’t specify in the affidavit if the suspect was a portly fellow, a bit long in the waistband, or if it was the salty snacks he craved, they eventually figured out his secret. The suspect had strayed with an alias, but much like a man returning to his dark master, the cocoa bean, his true identity was revealed: Bosco.
With the assistance of another local department, police confirmed the delivery went to an address associated with a Vincent Bosco, 26, of Tamaqua.
After police attempted to make contact at the residence, Bosco’s girlfriend called police, initially claiming the unpaid bill was a civil matter, police say. Police say they informed her it was not a civil matter because a credit card was used and failed to go through.
The girlfriend told police she would get paid on April 1, and police say they gave her until April 2 to pay the bill in full or charges would be filed.
On April 9, police say they checked with the fuel company and were told no payment had been made.
Bosco is charged with a misdemeanor count of theft of services.
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