HONESDALE, Pa. — An arrest has been made in connection with several Stourbridge Line break-ins.
Honesdale Borough Police arrested 20-year-old Michael Tyahla Thursday evening for burglarizing Stourbridge Line Raildorad cars and the Runaway Train Brewery.
Tyahla allegedly told police that items taken from the railroad cars, including a large map and a green suitcase, could be found at his home.
The Stourbridge Line Rail Excursions on Main Street in Honesdale are known for keeping the history of the railroad alive.
"We run to the outskirts of Hawley and back we give everybody the history of Honesdale and how the birthplace of the American railroad happened here," said Kat Bischak media manager for the Stourbridge Line.
But recently workers have been dealing with a rash of break-ins.
Captured on surveillance, photos appeared to show Tyahla making his way into train cars.
Officials with the Stourbridge Line said the first break-in happened in late June.
"All of the doors were like macheted in like absolutely axed in these doors. These coaches got just completely broken into," explained Bischak.
Then the situation escalated. Officials say Tyahla allegedly broke locks with bolt cutters and took items from the coaches twice just this week.
"The employees every day, we are constantly checking things we are upping security and now that is taking away from other duties that we need to perform like doing excursions," said Bischak
According to officials with the Stourbridge Line, the alleged vandal has caused nearly $5,000 in damage and stolen items.