Man allegedly stole from Chesco company

A former Delaware man was arrested Tuesday for stealing $200,000 worth of police and fire supplies from the Chester County company he worked for, the county District Attorney's Office said.

Thomas Wessells, 55, of Waterford, N.Y., was charged with felony theft, dealing in unlawful proceeds and related offenses.

Wessells worked at Witmer Public Safety Group, a company in Sadsbury Township that sells supplies to first responders. As director of order fulfillment, Wessells allegedly stole equipment including police rifle scopes and firefighter helmet lights and listed it for sale on eBay.

From his home, then in New Castle, Del., he made more than 2,000 eBay sales of the items over the course of four and a half years, prosecutors said.

The thefts were discovered in 2014 when Wessells was fired from his job for looking at pornography at work and the company reviewed his company computer usage.

When detectives searched Wessells' New York home in April, Wessells admitted to selling the company's products, according to the criminal complaint.

Chester County Detectives searched the work computer and examined shipping labels, Wessells' eBay activity and PayPal transaction records. They also contacted some people who had purchased from Wessells. They provided serial numbers for their products that matched those of the company's supplies.

Wessells posted bail that was set at $25,000 unsecured, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

- Justine McDaniel