Crime & Safety

2 Steal $11,000 in Tires and Rims from Bennett Infiniti, Police Say

Police chase ends with one man in custody, the other still at large, South Whitehall police say.

A 23-year-old Reading man who led police on a chase was arrested Saturday on charges he stole $11,000 worth of tires and rims from Bennett Infiniti, 4800 Tilghman St., South Whitehall, police said.

Salvador Gallo-Navarro, of the 600 block of N. 13th Street, is charged with theft, criminal conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Another person allegedly involved in the theft was still at large Saturday night, South Whitehall police said.

According to police, a South Whitehall officer spotted a vehicle with tires inside leaving the Bennett Infiniti car dealership about 2:30 a.m. Saturday and tried to get the vehicle to stop.

The driver tried to evade the officer by driving fast and turning off the vehicle lights, police said. More officers were called to assist, and a pursuit followed. 

Police said the people in the vehicle threw tires with rims out the windows as police gave chase west through Lehigh County and into Berks County. The vehicle eventually crashed, and Gallo-Navarro was taken into custody at the crash scene, police said.

The tires and rims were valued at $10,950. Police said damage to vehicles at the car dealership was estimated at $8,025.


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