Police: Teens planned, executed robbery of West Mahanoy teen at Vine Street Park
Sentinel Staff Reports
SHENANDOAH – Borough police are investigating a robbery on the west end where they say four teens lured an 18-year-old male to Vine Street Park, assaulted him, stole his shoes, phone, wallet and other items, and fled the area.
The incident occurred around midnight last Wednesday, when police said the 18-year-old victim came to the police station to report the robbery.
According to police Captain David Stamets, four teens — Topanga Berezwick, 18, Delano, Steven Strouphauer, 19, Mahanoy City, a 17-year-old from Mahanoy City, and a 16-year-old from Frackville — met in Mahanoy City to plan the robbery. The four planned to have Berezwick “lure the victim out of his house and for her to transport him to a predetermined location where they would assault the victim and steal his sneakers.”
Berezwick messaged the victim, seeing if he wanted to “hang out,” and said she and Strouphauer would pick him up at his West Mahanoy Township home. Prior, the two juveniles were dropped off at Vine Street Park.
Berezwick and Strouphauer then brought the victim to the park. There, the two juveniles approached the two rear doors of the vehicle, entered, and began assaulting the victim. Strouphauer replaced the juvenile on the driver’s side and assaulted the victim as well.
The group then pulled the victim out of the vehicle, continuing the assault. The three male defendants demanded the victim’s shoes and to empty his pockets, then stealing his cell phone, wallet, sweatshirt, and sneakers. The group then fled, abandoning the victim in the road.
The two juveniles were taken into custody and transferred to Juvenile Probation, and Strouphauer and Berezwick will have preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Shenandoah.
Strouphauer is charged with felony conspiracy to commit robbery, misdemeanor conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy – receiving stolen property, simple assault, and summary harassment. Berezwick faces felony conspiracy to commit, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, and conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property.
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