18-year-old Wynnewood man and a second accomplice allegedly committed the burglary and theft shortly before 4 a.m.
All charges lodged against an 18-year-old Wynnewood man in a New Year's Day cigarette heist at a Montgomeryville gas station move on to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court following a waiver of a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Damion Michael Christian, 18, of the 1400 block of Surrey Lane, was charged with felony burglary and other misdemeanors for an alleged early morning $900 cigarette heist from the Montgomeryville Lukoil on Jan. 1, 2026.
Christian was also charged Jan. 13 by Montgomery Township Police with misdemeanor counts of theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief, according to court documents.
At 3:52 a.m., police were dispatched to the gas station at 913 Bethlehem Pike for a motion security alarm. Upon arrival, police found a shattered front door and confirmed the business had been burglarized, according to the complaint.
A store manager arrived on scene, and determined 87 packs of cigarettes, valued at $957, were stolen, police said.
When reviewing security video, police found that, at 3:47 a.m., a silver Nissan Altima backs up to the front door and two men exit, according to the affidavit. Then men force entry through the front glass door, then go behind the counter and begin placing cigarettes into a black trash bag, police said. Then, the suspects flee the store and leave in the Altima.
During the investigation, police identified one of the suspects as Christian, per the complaint.
Christian was charged via summons. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bail ahead of a formal arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on April 22.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
