Crime & Safety

Garrison Street Neighbors Foil Suspected Car Thieves

Three men chased one down and held him until police could arrive; accomplice caught later.

Alert neighbors on the 400 block of E. Garrison Street may have prevented a car theft early this morning, according to court papers.

According to court records, the incident started at about 12:20 a.m. and happened like this:

Martin Laluz Sr., who lives on the block, spotted a man get out of one car and approach a silver Honda, which Laluz knew, did not belong to him.

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Laluz got his dog and stepped onto his porch, which prompted the suspect, later identified as Hank Turan, to run away.

About an hour later, Turan returned, exiting an Acura to approach to same Honda. Laluz again spotted Turan, but this time, he, his son Martin Laluz Jr., and a relative, Andrew Klotz, gave chase to Turan, who started to run. The Acura, meanwhile, sped away.

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They chased Turan several blocks before they caught up to him in the parking lot of the at 430 E. Broad St., where they detained him until police could arrive and he was arrested.

Later, police found the vehicle that Turan was being driven around in and made a traffic stop, arresting Yastefan Santiago, 18, of 765 Fetter Lane, Allentown. Under interrogation, Santiago admitted to police that he was driving for Turan who had told him that they were going to Bethlehem to steal cars, his arrest warrant says.

Santiago was charged with criminal attempt to commit auto theft and criminal conspiracy. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail following his arraignment before .

No information was immediately available about the current disposition of Turan’s case.


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