Pair named in June theft
FAIRVIEW TWP — Two suspected thieves are accused of using heavy equipment to make off with more than $3,600 worth of vehicle parts, equipment and scrap metal from outside a home on Redwood Road.
One of the suspects, Chad E. Bojanac, 42, is a neighbor of the victim, authorities said.
State police Wednesday arrested Bojanac and his alleged accomplice, Raymond E. Toy Jr., 43, of East Brady, in connection with the theft last month.
Investigators believe the pair later sold the stolen property to an Armstrong County scrap dealer.
Both are charged with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property.
Additionally, they are charged with misdemeanor counts of theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception, and a summary charge of trespass.
Bojanac remains in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail. Toy is free on $10,000 bail.
The victim, Thomas Young, contacted police June 9 after discovering numerous missing items from the home he owns in the 200 block of Redwood Road, according to court documents.
He told investigators that he last saw the property when he was at the home June 5.
Stolen were four used car motors, a motor engine lift, three rear-end axles, three vehicle winches, two steel wagon wheels, two 25-foot trailer frames, steel piping and 300 pounds of steel grading, documents said.
The missing items are valued at $3,670.
During his investigation, Trooper Justin Werner noticed a skid-steer loader and flat-top loader at Bojanac's home, which is in front of Young's home.
The officer also saw skid steer tire marks leading from the back part of Bojanac's driveway.Werner on June 9 spoke to both suspects at Bojanac's home. Each denied any involvement in the theft.But on June 13, Young provided police with a key clue, documents said. While trying to track down the stolen property, he told Werner, he spotted his car motor lift at P.J. Greco Sons salvage yard in Kittanning.Werner went to the scrap yard and spoke to an employee, who recounted that both defendants had been at the business twice the previous week, selling items belonging to Young for scrap, police said. They netted $600.Police said their case also includes incriminating surveillance footage of Bojanac and Toy at Greco's on June 7.
