Theft Incident at Morgan Truck Body

At approximately 5:15 a.m. on August 19, a box truck entered the yard of Morgan Truck Body in Morgantown, avoiding the designated check-in for drivers. An employee on a forklift, who appeared to be anticipating the truck’s arrival, followed it in, according to investigators.

According to security camera footage reviewed by company officials and a detective from Caernarvon Township, the employee—identified as Thomas J. Kaiser—dismounted the forklift and opened the back roll-up door of the Penske truck. He began loading the vehicle with five diesel-powered cooling units intended for refrigerated trailers.

Kaiser, who the company confirmed was trained to operate a forklift but primarily worked in an office role, undertook this unusual task without any apparent communication with the truck driver, who left shortly after arriving. Officials noted that this loading procedure was not standard practice for the company.

Typically, Morgan Truck Body does not load box trucks. Drivers must present paperwork upon arrival before being directed to a loading dock for proper loading. In the footage, Kaiser was seen loading the units in a disorganized manner.

This incident occurred on a Friday, and Kaiser arrived 30 minutes early for his shift. Company officials indicated that he had positioned the units in the yard ahead of time. He left about 8 a.m.—five hours before his shift ended—and did not return on the following Monday. Instead, he electronically submitted his resignation, which was noted after officials discovered the theft of five cooling units valued at approximately $252,000, as detailed in a criminal complaint filed by Detective Sgt. Chad Eberly.

When Eberly attempted to contact Kaiser that Monday, he was directed to Kaiser’s lawyer. On Wednesday, charges were filed against Kaiser, 37, from Reiffton, for felony conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking. He was subsequently released to await a hearing after being arraigned before District Judge Michael D. Kaufman in Birdsboro.

The driver of the box truck, identified as Kendra Lliteras, 30, of Reading, was also charged with similar offenses and remained free following her arraignment on Wednesday night before District Judge Kyley L. Scott in Reading Central Court. As of the latest update, investigators reported that the stolen equipment had not yet been recovered.