‘Kwik’ Thinking by Franklin Police Leads to Two Arrests in Convenience Store Theft

| March 17, 2023

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Two local men are behind bars for allegedly pulling a scheme with another individual to rob the Kwik Fill gas station in Franklin.

According to court documents, the City of Franklin Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 52-year-old Matthew James Kachik, of Franklin, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office on Tuesday, March 14.

  • Retail Theft – Take Merchandise, Felony 3
  • Criminal Trespassing – Enter Structure, Felony 3

According to separate court documents, the Franklin Police Department filed the following criminal charge against 48-year-old Harry Fox, Jr., of Franklin, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew Kirtland’s office on March 16:

  • Conspiracy – Retail Theft-Take Mdse, M1

According to a criminal complaint, On February 20, 2023, at approximately 11:21 p.m., Franklin Police officers were dispatched to the Kwik Fill on the 100 block of N. 13th Street for a report of theft.

Upon arrival, the offenders had already left the scene and their identity was not known, states the complaint.

The store employee stated that there were two males and a female who came to the store and had a vehicle problem. The employee went outside to help one male with the vehicle while the other stayed inside the store and stole several items, the complaint indicates.

Investigators later requested surveillance video from the incident and a total for the monetary loss.

On February 24, 2023, an investigating officer received an itemized statement from the victim which included batteries, transmission fluid, starter fluid, car parts, candy, rolling papers, and cigarettes, totaling $577.16, says the complaint.

On March 3, the officer received a copy of the surveillance video, which showed two males and a female go to the store at various times. At one point, both males enter the store, one male left with the store employee while the other remains in the store and begins committing theft. The man also goes behind the counter and fills a shopping bag full of several items. The female goes into the store and records the male stealing with her cell phone and they all leave in the same vehicle together, the complaint notes.

On March 13, investigators received information that one of the males who committed the theft was Matthew Kachik. Police reviewed the surveillance video with Kachik’s Parole Agent and were able to positively identify Kachik in the video committing retail theft as well as the female with Kachik, the complaint indicates.

On Monday, March 15, 2023, investigators received information that the male who went outside and distracted the store employee while the theft was being committed was named Harry. He was also told approximately where his residence was. The investigator was able to identify that this male was Harry Fox, Jr. through the departmental reporting system, a photo search, and because the vehicle shown in the surveillance video was at his residence, the complaint says.

Kachik was arraigned at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 16 in front of Judge Kirtland. Unable to post $20,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Prison.

Kackik’s preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m., in Venango County Central Court with Judge Kirtland presiding.

Fox was arraigned at 1:06 p.m. on March 16 in front of Judge Kirtland. A preliminary hearing is set for March 22, at 10:30 with Judge Kirtland presiding.


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Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls

Gavin Fish is a reporter for EYT Media Group and YouTuber based in Venango County. In addition to his YouTube Channel, he has contributed to investigations and reports for ABC News, Investigation Discovery, and Fox Nation, and has collaborated on projects developed for Netflix, Oxygen, Discovery Channel, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.
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