From Mirror staff reports

A city man is behind bars after allegedly stealing a vehicle that contained Christmas presents.

Kenneth G. Duncan Jr., 41, was arraigned Sunday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on felony charges of theft and receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor charge of theft from a motor vehicle and a summary charge of driving without a license.

Unable to post $30,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 6 before DeAntonio.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Altoona police were dispatched about 7:16 a.m. Saturday to the Sheetz at 400 E. Plank Road, after a female victim reported she stopped at Sheetz to get a coffee and, within the two minutes she was in the store, her vehicle was stolen.

Police viewing security footage saw the victim park directly outside the doors and walk into the store. The victim left the vehicle on and the keys in the ignition, police reported, and a man, later identified as Duncan, entered the vehicle, backed out and turned east on East Plank Road.

About 8:12 a.m. Sunday, Logan Township police were dispatched to the Sheetz at 1661 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd. for a report of a suspicious male attempting to enter vehicles.

Police detained the man, identified as Duncan, who admitted to stealing a car the day before.

Duncan, police reported, matched the description of the man seen in the security video from Saturday and was wearing the same coat, pants and shoes.

While talking with police Sunday morning, Duncan said he walked to the Sheetz on Saturday and saw a vehicle with its engine running. “I opened the front door,” Duncan said, adding “I drove it.”

When asked to describe the vehicle, Duncan said he didn’t know what kind it was but it was a “light blue sedan.” Police said Duncan appeared to be confused and misleading. He told police he tried to get gas in the vehicle using a card he found inside and also stated he drove the vehicle to a hospital in Huntingdon, where he was later discharged. He then said he drove it to the Tyrone area where he thought he left it, court documents state.

Duncan told police there were items in the vehicle that looked to belong to children. The victim had reported that there were numerous children’s items inside the car, including Christmas gifts for her children, the report states.

A PennDOT driver’s history showed Duncan’s license expired in June.