Colmar Man Admits Masterminding Series Of Thefts

A Colmar man pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court last week to masterminding a series of thefts in the North Penn and Indian Valley areas last year.

Michael P. Glinski, 24, was sentenced to between 10 and 23 months in state prison for his role in the thefts between Aug. 7 and Sept. 9, 1991. Glinski was also placed on five years probation and ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to the victims.

Judge William Vogel ordered Glinski to report to Montgomery County Prison on Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. to begin serving his sentence.

Two other men involved in the thefts pleaded guilty earlier this month.

Joseph R. Weber III, 20, of Hatfield, admitted taking part in five thefts in Souderton and Franconia and Hatfield townships, and was sentenced to between five and 23 months on prison and placed on five years probation. John Woodward Fenimore, 20, of Hatfield, pleaded guilty to thefts in Souderton and Franconia and was placed on six years probation.

A fourth man, Robert M. Stefanik, 20, of Lansdale, pleaded guilty in May to charges of theft by unlawful taking and criminal conspiracy in connection with the theft of a truck in Lower Salford Township last Sept. 16. He was sentenced to four years probation by Judge Albert Subers.

All three men agreed to testify against Glinski as part of their guilty pleas.

The thefts, targeted mainly at commercial vehicles, included almost 500 cartons of cigarettes, 35 cases of cookies and snacks and thousands of dollars worth of tools.

A search of Weber's house on Valley Wood Road on Sept. 16, 1991, turned up 42 cartons and 66 packages of cigarettes as well as tools and boxes of candy, according to a police report.

Glinski admitted he was involved in stealing the cookies and snacks from a vehicle on Valley Wood Road and in several other break-ins, according to the report.