The caller was an employee from Pottsville Tobacco and Hookah, who was chasing a male, who stole a CBD cartridge. The male offender was described as a thin black male wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and a black mask over his face.
Patrolman Delinko arrived at the store and made contact with the employee. He stated the male took one item, a CBD cartridge, and left the store without paying.
Patrolman Delinko arrived at the store and made contact with the employee. He stated the male took one item, a CBD cartridge, and left the store without paying.
A review of security footage showed a tall, thin black male, later identified as Randy Mateo, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with rainbow lettering across the front and a black mask across his face.
Mateo asks the employee for a CBD cartridge, to which the employee hands to him. Mateo is seen looking at the cartridge then briefly walks off camera toward the back of the store. He then returns to camera range and is seen putting the cartridge in his left pants pocket then leave without paying. After the employee sees Mateo not pay for the product, he began to chase him up the street (North on North Centre Street).
The employee added that while he was chasing Mateo up the street, he stopped and brandished what looked like a knife. The employee said Mateo told him to stop following him so he returned to the store.
After learning the employee chased Mateo North on North Centre Street and possibly toward North 2nd Street, Patrolman Delinko used security footage from the Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office at the Courthouse, and from City Hall, to track the suspect to Progress Avenue.
With the help of Alvernia's cameras, Mateo was seen removing his white sweatshirt and walk into the
parking lot to the rear of the U.S. Post Office. Mateo is then seen entering a white postal service mini-van, and drive away.
Patrolman Delinko and Cpl. Messner went to the U.S. Post Office and showed pictured of the male to the staff. They stated the male looked like one of their employees, Randy Mateo. Staff said they called Mateo at approximately 12:40pm wondering where he was because he was due to return to his shift and he said he was at the store.
The employee added that while he was chasing Mateo up the street, he stopped and brandished what looked like a knife. The employee said Mateo told him to stop following him so he returned to the store.
After learning the employee chased Mateo North on North Centre Street and possibly toward North 2nd Street, Patrolman Delinko used security footage from the Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office at the Courthouse, and from City Hall, to track the suspect to Progress Avenue.
With the help of Alvernia's cameras, Mateo was seen removing his white sweatshirt and walk into the
parking lot to the rear of the U.S. Post Office. Mateo is then seen entering a white postal service mini-van, and drive away.
Patrolman Delinko and Cpl. Messner went to the U.S. Post Office and showed pictured of the male to the staff. They stated the male looked like one of their employees, Randy Mateo. Staff said they called Mateo at approximately 12:40pm wondering where he was because he was due to return to his shift and he said he was at the store.
The Post Office was able to track Mateo's route and said he should be delivering mail in the area of Market Square Apartments. This information was given to Sgt. Englert and Detective Welsh, who located Mateo in the 100 block of North 12th Street.
Patrolman Delinko met with Sgt. Englert, Detective Welsh, and Mateo. Sgt. Englert advised him that Mateo was given his Miranda Warnings and agreed to speak with Police. He was shown the video from the store and said he went to the store while on break on his mail route. He said he took the cartridge because he felt like the store ripped him off a few weeks prior and this was his way of exchanging items.
Mateo was asked about brandishing a knife and he denied doing so.
Mateo showed Police the white hooded sweatshirt he was wearing during the theft and also produced the stolen CBD cartridge.
On Friday, November 10th, 2023, Patrolman Delinko filed a non-traffic citation on Mateo for Retail Theft (S) through Magisterial District Judge Reiley's office.
On Friday, November 10th, 2023, Patrolman Delinko filed a non-traffic citation on Mateo for Retail Theft (S) through Magisterial District Judge Reiley's office.