A homeless man has been charged with stealing a purse and other belongings from a vehicle parked in downtown Lehighton.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Cpl. Bruce Broyles of the Lehighton Borough Police Department in the case against George Herman, 59:

On May 18, police said a woman reported a black laptop had been stolen out of her 2022 black Toyota Camry in the 100 block of South First Street, Lehighton.

The bag contained a Kate Spade purse, her driver’s license, debit and credit cards, checks, a phone charger, a gift card, and Apple iPhone, Samsung Buds and a $20 bill.

A local business supplied surveillance video which showed a man identified as Herman, wearing a dark color hat, and a jacket with bluejeans in the area of the woman’s vehicle.

A state parole agent said the suspect was Herman.

Broyles spoke with a man who advised that Herman has been staying at his residence in Weissport, who told him on May 19 that Herman committed a theft of a purse from a vehicle. The man told Herman to turn himself into police, and that he was no longer allowed to stay at his residence, and that Herman was no longer at his home.

The man said Herman told him the purse and its contents were left at an abandoned building behind Mallard Market between South Third Street and South East Alley, and that the only item kept by Herman was the money found in the purse.

Police were able to locate a black purse in an abandoned building.

Police then responded to Herman’s last known location of White Street in Weissport and while speaking with neighbors, Herman was walking to the residence.

Herman began to run and police a Taser to take him into custody.

Herman said what he did was wrong and wished to return all stolen property to its owner, and that he regretted committing this act, as he only got “$9 bucks from it.”

Police also found 1.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 0.7 grams of marijuana.

Herman faces charges of theft from a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, evading arrest or detention on foot, unlawful possession of controlled substance, possession or delivery of a small amount of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Herman is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000, 10% bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing July 3 before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe