SELINSGROVE — In 28 minutes on Sunday, a Susquehanna University student broke into 14 vehicles, tried to light two of them on fire, stole $1,305 worth of items and caused nearly $1,800 in damage, state police report.
Matthew J. Kocan, 18, of Towanda, was arrested after video surveillance at Monroe Market Place and the Susquehanna Valley Mall captured his alleged spree, which occurred between 4:40 p.m. and 5:08 p.m.
A criminal complaint did not give a motive for Kocan’s alleged actions.
Kocan tried to burn the hood of Megan L. Heimbach’s Chevrolet Cobalt by placing papers on the hood and setting them on fire with lighter fluid, causing $500 in damage, state police at Selinsgrove report.
He also is accused of using Zippo lighter fluid to try to burn a tonneau cover owned by Christopher Herman, the complaint said.
Among the $1,305 items stolen from the vehicles were $100 cash, an Ipod, a gasoline cap, center wheel caps, a camera, checkbook and tobacco.
When police located Kocan’s vehicle on the university campus, it matched the suspect’s vehicle on the video surveillance and a Zippo lighter was on the front seat, the complaint said.
A search warrant was conducted at Kocan’s dorm room and of his Honda Civic on Wednesday, and police collected several stolen items.
Kocan allegedly admitted breaking into all 14 vehicles and vandalizing them, or stealing items. Police said he also confessed to stealing a shooting sleeve, which was found in his room, from Dick’s Sporting Goods Store on Sunday.
Kocan was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of arson, six counts each of receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle, and eight counts of criminal mischief.
He was released from Snyder County Jail Thursday on $30,000 bail to appear at a preliminary hearing April 1 before District Judge Edward Mihalik Jr. in Selinsgrove.
