Two Argentinian men accused of Cranberry Twp. thefts
Two Argentines are sitting in Butler County Prison with high bonds after they were arrested on felony fraud and theft charges.
Cranberry Township Police Tuesday arrested Fabian I. Navarro-Aliaga, 32, and Marcelo A. Telechea-Droguett, 24, after the pair allegedly were found with items bought with a stolen debit card.
Both men were listed as John Does in initial charging documents. According to court officials, a language barrier became an issue in identifying the men and prolonged their arraignment. The names in this report reflect those listed on the men’s respective docket sheets.
“Neither (man) had valid identification and were unable to be identified,” said the lead officer in the affidavit.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned the men Wednesday morning on charges of felony unauthorized device access and possessing stolen property, as well as misdemeanor theft. They were taken to jail, each with a $300,000 bond.
According to charging documents, Butler County 911 dispatchers responded around noon Tuesday to North Boundary Park, Cranberry Township, where a woman claimed items were stolen from her vehicle.
The woman told officers her vehicle was unlocked and her purse was inside. She told police someone stole $600, her bank debit card and her iPhone 10 from the purse.
Police said security footage led them to Navarro-Aliaga and Telechea-Droguett, who in the footage were driving in a silver 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.
Police said the pair went to Best Buy first and paid $7,946 for three laptops using the stolen debit card. Police said the two then went to Kay Jewelers and spent $772.
“(Navarro-Aliaga and Telechea-Droguett) were later taken into custody and were observed wearing the same clothing as observed in video surveillance at Best buy and described by Kay Jewelers employees,” police said.
“(The two men) were found to be in possession of laptops and jewelry purchased by use of the PNC Bank credit card, which were located inside of the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze,” police said.
According to court officials, a translator has been arranged to assist the two men at future proceedings.
Navarro-Aliaga and Telechea-Droguett are scheduled to appear May 27 for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Kevin Flaherty.
