2nd Arrest Made in $11,000 Tire Theft

A 21-year-old Reading man is the second person arrested in connection with an alleged tire theft earlier this month from Bennett Infiniti in South Whitehall.

Jaime X. Cintron-Castro has been charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft, criminal mischief, fleeing police, driving without lights and careless driving, according to South Whitehall police.

The charges stem from a Sept. 14 incident in which $11,000 worth of tires and rims were stolen from Bennett Infiniti, 4800 Tilghman St.

Arrested earlier in the case was Salvador Gallo-Navarro, 23, also of Reading.

According to police, a South Whitehall officer had spotted a vehicle with tires inside leaving the car dealership about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 14. The officer tried to get the driver to stop, but the driver allegedly turned off the vehicle lights and sped off. A pursuit followed. 

Police have said the people in the vehicle threw tires with rims out the windows as police gave chase. The vehicle eventually crashed, and Gallo-Navarro was taken into custody. A second person remained at large, police said at the time.

On Wednesday, police said, a Reading police officer recognized Cintron-Castro, found at a Reading playground, as the man wanted by South Whitehall police.  Cintron-Castro allegedly ran off but police eventually caught up with him, according to a report in the Reading Eagle.

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