Man accused of stealing porch package arrested while trying on vest inside Reading store

A Wernersville man was arrested inside an east Reading convenience store after police said a manager reported that the man was trying on a vest he had taken from the porch of a residence across the street.

Christian M. Owens, 32, of the 400 block of Lincoln Drive was charged with burglary and theft. He was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail following arraignment Sunday before District Judge Tonya A. Butler in Reading Central Court.

According to police:

Officers were dispatched about 10:30 a.m. Sunday to the Sunoco gas station at 1658 Perkiomen Ave. after a witness reported seeing a man remove items from a nearby porch, then cross the street into the store.

Police found Owens inside the store with a vest with retail tags still attached, along with two jackets and several other items, including sunglasses, keys on a lanyard, a book bag, a purse charm, a butterfly charm, a bracelet and gold chain, a SIM card and a security camera.

The witness told officers that she saw Owens walk onto the porch of a nearby residence and open delivery packages before leaving the property and entering the gas station.

Police went to the home and found a gray delivery package on the porch bearing the resident’s name, address and tracking number. The homeowner told officers that she had ordered a vest and had checked her vestibule about 10:20 a.m. — roughly 10 minutes before police were called — and noticed several items out of place, as if someone had rummaged through her belongings.

Security camera footage from the residence showed Owens walking up to the front door about 10:17 a.m., picking up the gray package containing the vest, trying to turn the doorknob and entering the vestibule. He was recorded leaving the home with the package and two black coats.

Surveillance footage from inside the Sunoco showed Owens handling the items and trying on the jackets and vest. Police said he was also seen discarding keys, which were later recovered from a trash can.

The vest was turned over to the homeowner. The remaining items were photographed and placed into evidence.