A Slatedale man and a Slatington woman face felony charges for stealing oil from a property on Summer Valley Road in New Ringgold, West Penn Township Police said.

Police said Scott Albert Jr., 28, who also has an address in Orwigsburg, and Tara Frye, 31, stole the oil between 6 p.m. Oct. 16 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17.

West Penn officers were dispatched to 3114 Summer Valley Rd. on Oct. 17 for a report of a burglary. Police spoke to a neighbor who reported seeing a vehicle enter the property after a chain or rope was cut. He also noticed that a garage door was ripped from its hinges. He told police that the day before, there were no tracks in the driveway and the chain or rope was still there.

The witness also told police that he saw a motorcycle pass by the house several times a few weeks ago. The driver parked a distance away, then walked to the property with a woman. He said he saw them exit the property with flashlights but did not call police. Instead, he attempted to locate the motorcycle and spotted the bike with a man and woman at the stop sign in the village of Snyders.

Police said when they entered the garage, they smelled fuel oil. Officers noticed a cap from a 55-gallon drum on the ground and saw a hose sticking out of the top of a fuel oil tank. Outside the house, police saw three 55-gallon drums, two of which were filled with oil. Police said it then became apparent that someone had pumped oil into the drums using a garden house.

Later that day, police caught two suspects, identified as Albert and Frye, attempting to remove the drums from the property.

Albert was read his rights and consented to speak to the officers without an attorney. He said he was told to go to the property and remove the drums. He said he went to the home with Frye. As the two were attempting to move the drums, he said, police arrived. Albert said he attempted to flee. He also admitted that he was the person the neighbor saw on the property three weeks ago.

Officers said they saw the garden hose in the bed of Albert’s truck. Albert gave police permission to search the vehicle. Police found what they described as a “girlie” looking bag containing a substance that field tested positive as methamphetamine. Albert said it was Frye’s, but Frye said it was Albert’s.

Albert and Frye were charged with burglary, criminal trespass - break into a structure, theft by unlawful taking, possession of a controlled substance and possession of instrument of crime for the fuel transfer pump and hoses.

Albert also faces charges of driving with a suspended license.

Albert was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail. Frye posted $50,000 bail.