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Trump novelties taken from roadside stand

The weekend theft of more than $3,000 in President Donald Trump merchandise from this pop-up tent, attached to a utility trailer at Route 8 and Brownsdale Road in Penn Township, is under investigation. Township police say they have clues but no suspects.

Penn Township police are investigating the weekend theft of more than $3,000 in President Donald Trump merchandise for sale in the township.

The items, which included clothing, flags and other novelties, were taken from a trailer and an attached pop-up tent at Route 8 and Brownsdale Road.

Most of the Trump-themed goods were in the utility trailer, which was broken into, said police Cpl. Jack Ripper.

There are no suspects, he said, in the theft, which occurred between approximately 6 p.m. Saturday and shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday. Police, however, have some clues.

Ripper believes the thief or thieves used a vehicle in the heist at the makeshift store, which has been operating for more than two months in the parking lot at the Freedom Farms Sandwich Shop.

It appeared from a tire track that the suspect or suspects drove the vehicle through the parking lot, down over a small hill and into another parking lot.

At least one set of shoe prints also showed that the stolen items were carried — in multiple trips — from the merchandise-packed trailer and tent back to the getaway vehicle, Ripper said.

“They left a lot of stuff,” he said, “but they took a lot of stuff.”

During his on-scene investigation, Ripper recovered a Trump knife that he found lying over the hillside. He surmised that the suspect accidentally dropped it during the course of the crime.

Police lifted latent fingerprints from the trailer, but Ripper declined to say if the prints proved useful. The suspect got into the 10- to 12-foot trailer by breaking a lock on it.

Ripper also would not say if police have recovered any surveillance video as part of the investigation.

The owner discovered the theft upon showing up to open for business Sunday and immediately called 911 at 10:52 a.m.

Among the pro-Trump items stolen were 54 flags, 20 T-shirts, 11 knives and 10 hooded sweatshirts. Some — but not all — of the other Trump merchandise taken included blankets, socks, bottle openers, lanyards, hats, playing cards and a bobblehead.

Also stolen was $150 in currency from a cash box, and a for-display-only item — a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the president in a red tie, which was attached to a customized wooden backboard.

The stand is still open for business, Ripper said, reportedly through the Nov. 3 election.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police at 724-586-1169, or 911.

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