Montgomery Township Police. Photo by James Short.
Montgomery Township Police say suspect confessed during traffic stop
A Monroe County man is facing felony charges after police allege he stole a brand-new camper from a Hilltown Township RV dealership and was caught towing it through Montgomery Township late Tuesday night.
Ayden Nickola Vangulick, 19, of Albrightsville, is charged with felony theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, along with summary traffic offenses including driving an unregistered vehicle, operating without a valid inspection, and driving while operating privileges are suspended, according to court documents.
According to the affidavit, Montgomery Township Police were on patrol around 10 p.m. Tuesday near Bethlehem Pike and Horsham Road when they observed a black Ram 1500 towing a white Jayco 27BH camper.
Police said the camper appeared improperly balanced, with the hitch and trailer jack nearly touching the ground while in motion. The officer also observed that the camper did not display a registration plate.
The truck turned into the parking lot of 776 Bethlehem Pike, where police conducted a traffic stop.
During the stop, police determined the truck’s inspection had expired and that Vangulick’s driver’s license was suspended, according to the complaint.
Vangulick allegedly told police he had just purchased the camper for $21,000 but was unable to provide paperwork or details about the seller.
Officers inspected the camper and noted it was a 2026 model that appeared brand new, with strings still wrapped around portions of the trailer consistent with dealer lot preparation. A dealer-specific identification sticker was affixed to the front of the unit.
Police searched surrounding RV dealerships and located an identical Jayco model listed for sale at Fretz RV on Bethlehem Pike in Hilltown Township, near Souderton Borough. The online listing displayed the same dealer identification sticker, according to the affidavit.
Before police questioned him further, Vangulick allegedly stated, “Can I be honest with you?” and confessed to stealing the trailer from Fretz RV.
Investigators allege Vangulick told police he found the trailer on the dealership’s website earlier that day, drove to the dealership around 3 p.m. to view it, and had employees move it into a detail lot for inspection.
He allegedly left, waited at a nearby restaurant until the dealership closed, then returned to the lot, hooked the trailer to his truck and drove away.
Police said Vangulick told them he intended to tow the camper to a seasonal campsite he maintains in the Pocono area and replace his existing unit with the stolen trailer.
The camper is valued at $62,251, according to court documents.
Vangulick was arraigned and released on $15,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for March 3 before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
