Arrest Made In $3,000 Theft From Operation Santa Claus
CONCORD, N.H. (CBS/AP) — Police have charged a New Hampshire man with stealing $3,000 in gift cards that were donated to a program that gives holiday presents.
Twenty-three-year-old James Pechacek is charged with a felony count of burglary. Police say he took the cards from a state-owned van in a locked garage between Nov. 25 and Nov. 30 in Concord.
The cards from stores such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy were for Operation Santa Claus. Tools, including a hammer drill, nail gun and electric saw, also were stolen.
Pechacek was set to be arraigned Thursday. There was no phone listing for him and it could not immediately be learned if he had a lawyer.
New Hampshire State Police said they are also seeking charges against a second man, Hector Lito Rodriguez, 21, in connection with the burglary. Rodriguez is currently being held on a warrant for an unrelated criminal trespassing offense.
Police said they expect more arrests in the theft to follow.
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