Ephrata police stake-out succeeds

EPHRATA — Ephrata police arrested two men during a stake-out after the two suspects failed a second time trying to steal scooters and motorcycles.

Joshua Adam Horton, 29, was arrested Monday for 10 counts of attempted motor vehicle theft and a warrant concerning theft in the third degree, according to Ephrata Police Chief Joe  Varick on Tuesday.

Chris Wynn Hubbard, 47, was arrested for 10 counts of attempted motor vehicle theft and for making false statements to police.

During the weekend Horton and Hubbard allegedly attempted to steal a U-Haul truck carrying six scooters and three motorcycles from a business parking lot on Basin Street Northwest, Varick said. Their first attempt failed because they got the truck stuck in snow, he said.

Police learned the two men were going to attempt to steal the vehicles again on Monday morning so they set up a surveillance perimeter. Police waited in the area of the parking lot for the men to return, Varick said.

The men reportedly came back and during their second attempt, the U-Haul truck became stuck in the snow again. Varick said officers then arrested them, he said.