Mailman stops porch theft; suspect covered in pudding

A mailman stopped a man from stealing a package from a front porch in Tamaqua.

Police received a report on Feb. 5 of an attempted theft on North Railroad Street after homeowner noticed a strange mark on her front window and reviewed security footage.

She told police she saw a man (identified as Nevin S. Holben, 24, of New Ringgold) on her front porch picking up a package (a knife set valued at $24) that had been delivered earlier.

Holben tried to pick up the package and leave, but dropped the package when he was startled by the mailman.

The mark on the window was chocolate pudding, which was present on the package. When the defendant was located, he was covered in chocolate pudding.

Holben was charged with theft by unlawful taking.