Luthersburg Man Accused of Storage Unit Break-Ins Faces Additional Theft Charges

REYNOLDSVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – A Luthersburg man who has been accused of a series of storage unit break-ins is now facing additional criminal charges after allegedly stealing from a former employer.

Court documents indicate the Dubois-based State Police filed new charges against 35-year-old Joshua David Cribbs, of Luthersburg.

According to a criminal complaint, around 10:55 a.m. on November 19, 2017, Trooper Strishock, of DuBois PSP, interviewed a known victim who reported that he parks his trailer and truck in the parking lot in front of his home, but when he returned home from breakfast that day, he noticed that the trailer door was open. The victim said that he does not lock the doors to the trailer. When he looked inside the trailer, he discovered numerous tools had been stolen. Then, he looked in his truck and discovered that a drill was stolen from the cab.

The victim stated he believed that Joshua Cribbs may have been involved in the incident because he was a former employee. He told Trooper Strishock that he had to fire Cribbs recently and did not pay his agreed-upon wage because of the contract Cribbs lost him. He said that he had no proof or evidence that Cribs was involved; however, he considered him a person of interest.

On December 6, the victim was interviewed at the PSP Dubois barracks. The victim said he received a text from one of his workers stating that another known man knew where the missing tools were located. The text stated, “Yo tell (victim) I know for a fact Cribbs stole his generator…He tried to store it at my house an I wouldn’t let him…He sold it to (known individual)…it’s at his garage in Rockton …I moved out of state and the day I was moving I was using (individual’s) work truck and we had to take that generator there between truckloads,” the complaint states.

Around 2:30 p.m. on January 5, 2018, Trooper Strishock interviewed Cribbs at PSP DuBois barracks. Cribbs was read his Miranda Rights and agreed to speak without an attorney present. At first, Cribbs denied taking anything from the victim. Trooper Strishock confronted Cribbs about a Facebook message a known individual provided saying it was Cribbs who took the generator and asked another individual to store it, but he refused. Cribbs tried to say that individual and one of his friends probably took the victim’s things. He said the individual was “trying to throw him under the bus and make him look bad” with the victim, the complaint indicates.

Cribbs later allegedly admitted to taking the items from the trailer because the victim owed him money. He said the trailer was unlocked, and he worked for the victim, and the victim failed to pay him $600.00 for the last job that he did for him. He stated that he worked hard for the victim and feels ashamed for taking his things. Cribbs stated the yellow and black generator would be at another known individual’s house. That individual was supposed to pay him for it but did not. He said the other items were in a blue plastic tote in the shed where he was staying, according to the complaint.

Based on the investigation, the following charges were filed on Tuesday, March 20, in Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office:

– Criminal Trespass-Enter Structure, Felony 3
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1
– Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 1
– Theft From A Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 3

Cribbs is currently lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in front of Judge Inzana.

Cribbs has a criminal history in Clearfield County, with his most current offense being theft by deception-related charges. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on March 7, 2016, to nine months to four years confinement.

Cribbs is also facing charges from a series of storage unit break-ins that occurred late last year. A preliminary hearing for that case is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, with Judge Inzana presiding.