Three people were charged on Friday with burglarizing a Walker Township convenience store, and at least two of them are suspected in multiple other break-ins across a four-county area, according to court documents.
Anthony J. Harkinson, 34, of Philipsburg, Eric J. Watkins, 41, of Howard, and Alexis Moses, 30, of Howard, were taken into custody after state police at Rockview responded to an alarm at about 1 a.m. on Friday at Zion Mart, 1896 E. College Ave.
Troopers arrived on the scene to find the front door damaged and two cash registers with $1,786 stolen, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
“Numerous” burglaries of gas stations and convenience stores after business hours have occurred over the last month and a half “with the same modus operandi” in Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and Mifflin counties, police wrote. A black Ford Taurus with rear passenger door damage was identified as a suspect vehicle connected to the break-ins through surveillance footage at each location, according to the affidavit.
Rockview troopers issued a “be on the lookout” for the vehicle. After the Zion Mart burglary, state police at Lamar spotted a car matching the description at Uni-Mart in Beech Creek, Clinton County.
A Rockview corporal responded and observed a hammer, gloves and black clothing in plain view inside the vehicle, according to the affidavit. Harkinson, the owner of the car, Watkins and Moses were taken into custody and transported to the Rockview barracks.
Harkinson allegedly admitted to the Zion Mart burglary, saying he wore mechanic’s gloves and used a crowbar to smash the window then stole the registers. He used the stolen cash on Skills machines at the Beech Creek Uni-Mart, police wrote.
He also allegedly said he used a hammer to commit other burglaries, but that he threw it in Black Moshannon Lake.
Moses told police that the trio were driving around and pulled behind the Dollar General near Zion Mart, according to the affidavit. Harkinson and Watkins got out, told her to get in the driver’s seat and walked toward Zion Mart, police wrote. When they returned, they allegedly told her to open the trunk and placed items inside of it.
She said “that deep down she knew what was going on,” according to the affidavit.
Surveillance video from the store showed two males, dressed in black, break the front glass door, take two registers and flee, police wrote.
Harkinson and Watkins are charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanor counts of theft and criminal mischief. They were arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who denied bail and noted they are suspected “in multiple burglaries with charges coming,” according to a docket sheet.
Moses is charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit criminal trespass, as well as two misdemeanor counts of conspiracy for theft and criminal mischief. Her bail was set at $50,000.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Aug. 23.
