Youngstown food bandit captured

YOUNGSTOWN

Reports said neighbors Wednesday helped catch a man suspected of stealing food four times within the last week from a home in the 200 block of Hilton Avenue.

Jacob Merchant, 32, who is homeless, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on a charge of criminal trespass and a warrant.

Police were called after residents found Merchant in the garage of a vacant home in the 200 block of East Judson Avenue and held him down until officers arrived.

Reports said officers found food taken from the Hilton Avenue home from a burglary that was reported at 5:35 p.m. Wednesday, the fourth time within a week that the home was broken into and food was taken.