On Dec. 3, while conducting a property check of the industrial area on the 1600 block of Republic Road in Lower Moreland, a police officer saw a male inside a large blue metal storage bin known to hold scrap pieces of metal. The officer also observed a female standing next to a gold Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck. Both the male and the female were wearing gloves and numerous pieces of scrap metal were already placed in the bed of the truck when police arrived. About 3/4 of the bed of the truck was filled with scrap metal, according to the report.

The male was identified as Mark DiDonato and the female was identified as Christine Steiner, both of Southampton. When police told them it was illegal to take the scrap metal, DiDonato stated he would put all of the metal back in the storage bin. Police contacted the business owner, and the business owner said he would pursue theft charges.

While searching the car, police found a large bladed knife, approximately 10” in length. Both people were placed under arrest and transported to LMPD holding cells. Charges are pending the proper valuation of the stolen metal.