Image courtesy of Facebook Marketplace
The Jeep's owners arranged a meet-up to buy their own car back, catch thief, according to reports
Whitemarsh Township police said that two owners did some of their own detective work to get their stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee back after seeing the car posted on Facebook Marketplace, according to police reports.
On Sunday, Aug. 4, at 5:03 p.m., Whitemarsh Township Police Department was called out to the 3800 block of Mayflower Road in Plymouth Meeting for a stolen car investigation. But much of the legwork, it seemed, was already done by the victims of the crime.
According to police reports, Angel Mayen Rodriguez, the owner of the Jeep’s husband, called the department and asked that the police follow behind him as he drove his grey pick-up truck to the meeting place. Rodriguez led police to the address on Mayflower Road, where police reported that they witnessed a man getting out of the driver’s side of the white Jeep Grand Cherokee. The man was later identified as Isaiah Anthony Roberts, 18, of the 3900 block of Poplar Street, in Philadelphia.
Roberts admitted to police, according to their reports, that he had been the one that got out of the Jeep’s driver’s side door. He was reportedly read his rights and decided to waive them to speak with police. The Jeep was identified by VIN number to be the stolen Jeep in question, police said.
The Jeep’s owner, Yensi Jaz Garcia Molina, had reported the Jeep stolen to the Philadelphia Police Department earlier that Sunday. Rodriguez told police that he had found the stolen Jeep on Facebook Marketplace. Rodriguez and Molina opted to contact the unknown actors, deciding to meet the seller on Mayflower Road to exchange money for the Jeep, police said.
Molina said she did not give Roberts any permission to have possession of the Jeep. Roberts, who police said first gave them two false names, is charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property, as well as one misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, police said. According to police, Roberts was seeking $3,000 for the Jeep.
Roberts is awaiting a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Dara Nasatir on Aug. 14 at 10:45 a.m. after posting an unsecured bond signature for $10,000.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
