Four people are facing felony charges after police say an investigation into stolen donation bins led to the discovery of dozens of collection containers and truckloads of donated merchandise at an Altoona warehouse.
According to court documents filed by Logan Township Police, the investigation began after the Altoona Rescue Mission reported multiple clothing donation containers had been stolen from locations throughout the area.
According to police, officials with the rescue mission placed a tracking device inside one of the organization’s donation bins at the Rural King store on West Plank Road. After the container was stolen, police said the device led them to a leased property at 1917 9th Ave. in Altoona.
Police said when officers entered the building, they allegedly found numerous donation containers matching those reported stolen, including three containers belonging to the Altoona Rescue Mission worth around $10,000. Police said some containers had already been emptied, while others appeared to be in the process of being repainted or altered. Investigators also observed a surveillance camera system throughout the facility.
Police said, while on scene, a white box truck and white van later arrived at the property, occupied by four men identified as Gomez Palacios, Escobar Argueta, Hugo Pastora and Villatoro Reyes. Police allege the four leased the property and had installed the surveillance cameras