MANCHESTER, NH – A Goffstown man called police at 4:15 p.m. on July 18 and claimed his 2008 Ford Ranger pick-up truck had been stolen from the parking lot of SNS Convenience, 307 South Mammoth Road. The victim, Robert Russell Jr., 58, stated he left his keys inside of his unlocked vehicle while he entered the store.
Officer James Pittman spoke with Crystal Maina, 28 of Dunbarton, at 7:30 p.m. at Granite and Main Street. Maina located her Uncle Robert’s vehicle in the area of 7-Eleven, 85 South Main Street. Maina’s uncle called her earlier in the day and told her his vehicle had been stolen, so she was actively looking for it.
Maina and her husband Phillip Maina, 40, located the vehicle as it drove across the Bridge Street bridge. They observed two men inside, including Kevin Gearhart, 48, of 457 Lake Ave., Manchester, drive toward 7-Eleven. The two men exited the vehicle after they parked it on Parker Street. The Mainas contacted police and provided the description of two men they observed inside of the vehicle.
Gearhart and a male passenger were not inside of the vehicle when police arrived on scene. However, officers located them inside of 7-Eleven minutes after they arrived. Officer Eric Slocum located the keys to the vehicle on Gearhart. He was arrested and charged with Receiving Stolen Property and is set to be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on July 19, 2016.
The vehicle was not damaged, so Mr. Russell took possession of it once the officers cleared with an arrest. The passenger was not charged in the incident.
