Area man accused of stealing 2 vehicles from different Sheetz on the same day

HUNTINGDON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Bristol man is accused of stealing two different vehicles from two different Sheetz on the same day.

State police have charged Troy Porter, 37, for taking a car from a Huntingdon County Sheetz, after he had already taken one from a Sheetz in Altoona, according to police.

On Feb. 8, around 4:24 a.m., police were dispatched to the Sheetz at the intersection of William Penn Highway and S. 4th Street in Smithfield Township for a report of a stolen vehicle. Police noted in the complaint that the victim had parked her Volkswagen at the fuel pump, went inside the store and when she came back out, the vehicle was gone. Charges show she notified Sheetz employees who called police.

Troopers were also notified that a white Chevy Cobalt was parked next to her vehicle with the driver’s door open, but no driver.

Police learned that the Altoona Police Department issued a BOLO for the white Cobalt and Porter, who was accused of stealing the vehicle from the Sheetz located at 700 Chestnut Ave. in Altoona approximately 40 minutes earlier.

When troopers arrived at the Smithfield Township Sheetz, they initially saw the white Cobalt by the gas pumps. Once officers were inside, they noted in the affidavit that Porter had walked from behind Sheetz, gotten back in the white Cobalt and left. The victim’s Volkswagen was then located next door at Woody’s Bar-B-Q.

Troopers noted in the complaint that they believed Porter did not know how to drive a manual vehicle, which the Volkswagen had. They also smelled a strong burning smell coming from inside.

Police returned to Sheetz to speak with police and were shown video footage of the incident. According to the criminal complaint, the video showed the white Chevy pull next to the Volkswagen, Porter exited the Chevy and took the Volkswagen east on William Penn Highway. Shortly after, the Porter is seen on the back side of Sheetz getting back in the Chevy.

Porter was arrested on June 21, however, details of his arrest are unknown at this time. He is currently in the Cumberland County Jail, according to the Huntingdon County Jail.

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He is charged with felony theft, a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license and operating a vehicle without an inspection.

His preliminary arraignment is scheduled for July 3.

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