By Kathy Stevens
The York Dispatch
LEWISBERRY, Pa. — Just several days shy of the two-year anniversary of a firehouse heist in Lewisberry, a man was arrested and accused of stealing similar booty to the last thief’s — a hefty floor safe.
The man charged in the crime is Mark Steven Gianoulos, 44, of 2662 Jefferson St. in Harrisburg. He was arrested about 3 a.m. Monday after telling a police officer, “You got me,” before the officer posed a question, said Newberry Township Police Chief David Duffy. Officer Richard Hershberger happened upon Gianoulos on Potts Hill Road in Lewisberry as Gianoulos was driving a 1998 Green Mazda truck with a “large object” in the bed and no rear lights, according to charging documents.
Hershberger switched on the cruiser’s blue lights and followed the truck about a quarter-mile before the driver pulled to the side of the road. Hershberger walked up to the driver’s side of the truck and asked Gianoulos what was going on, to which Gianoulos confessed saying he’d taken the safe from Lewisberry Fire Co., according to charging documents.
Gianoulos is jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail on charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and possessing instruments of crime. Duffy said Gianoulos broke into a rear door at the fire station at 105 N. Front St. and made his way to the floor safe, which is about 21/2 feet square and on wheels.
Gianoulos likely worked alone, wrestling the thing outside and into the Mazda, Duffy said. Hershberger recovered from Gianoulos’ truck items believed to have been used in the burglary.
The safe held little more than documents important only to the fire company, such as vehicle titles, said Jennifer Cassada, Lewisberry Fire Co. president.
Previous theft: The arrest occurred nine days prior to the two-year anniversary of the previous safe theft at the fire company. Police were alerted about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 17, 2005, to a problem in the fire house. Officers arrived to find former Lewisberry firefighter Richard Elliott Cramer inside and attempting to remove an older, heavier safe. He later pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay restitution and sentenced to 102 days to 23 months in jail, according to court documents.
That safe was returned to the fire company as will the one most recently taken, Cassada said. Police said they cannot determine whether Gianoulos has ties with the fire company volunteers or their families.
“It’s depressing that this happens,” Cassada said. “We’re all volunteers. We work hard for what we have for someone just to come in and take it.”
Copyright 2007 York Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved