Roaring Spring Man Jailed For Theft at Friend's Home

A Roaring Spring man is in jail after police say he stole cash, guns and jewelry from a friend's home.

According to State Police in Hollidaysburg, Wade A. Rhodes, 32, was "house sitting" for his friend while the friend and his wife were out of town in late December.

Upon returning to his home, the victim noticed a $10 lottery scratch-off ticket that he had left behind was missing but didn't question Rhodes about it.

In February, the victim had Rhodes over to his house to play cards and during that time the victim had $90 in cash laying on a table and $18 in his wallet, money the victim said was to pay for snow plowing services.

Rhodes spent the night at the home and when the victim woke up he noticed that $60 was missing from the table and $10 missing from his wallet.

When the victim confronted Rhodes about the missing money, Rhodes allegedly gave him back $60 of the $70 he took.

It was at this time the victim said he became suspicious and started thinking about other items in his home which had come up missing.

After looking around his house, the victim told police he discovered Rhodes may have taken some of his wife's jewelry. The victim then went to check his gun cabinet but couldn't find the key to open it. The victim said he shook the cabinet and could tell that it was empty.

The victim then called Rhodes who at first denied taking the guns, but eventually told the homeowner that he put the key to the gun safe on top of a cabinet above the refrigerator after removing the guns, according to police.

The victim asked Rhodes where he sold the guns and Rhodes allegedly told him he sold them to a trade shop in Bedford.

Rhodes allegedly also admitted to the victim that he stole the jewelry and pawned the pieces at a coin and jewelry dealer in Duncansville.

The victim told police that the stolen items included gold and diamond necklaces, bracelets and rings along with a Steelers commemorative wooden football, an autographed picture of the 2005 Steelers Super Bowl championship team and a Babe Ruth commemorative coin.

The total value of the items stolen, including the guns, was around $1,800.

Police said both businesses that Rhodes allegedly sold the stolen items to provided documentation of the transactions.

Rhodes faces felony and misdemeanor counts of theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and possession of prohibited firearm.

Rhodes was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Steven Jackson, Altoona, and lodged in the Blair County Prison on $20,000 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger, Martinsburg.