PHILADELPHIA (December 12, 2024) — District Attorney Larry Krasner, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, Captain Robert McKeever, Commanding Officer of Southwest Detectives Division, Assistant District Attorney William Fritze, Supervisor, Gun Violence Task Force, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Doughty, DAO Economic Crimes Division and Carjacking Enforcement Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Anna Walters, Gun Violence Task Force, announced on Thursday the arrest and charging of Chaun Davis (DOB 1/30/1979) for his role as ringleader in a brazen and sweeping theft scheme that victimized dozens of Philadelphia residents. In excess of $160,000 worth of items were stolen from vehicles that were often damaged in the course of these crimes.
Davis is charged with dozens of theft from vehicle offenses he allegedly committed across the city between January and October of this year. Items included firearms, cash, credit cards, electronics, and even police equipment such as bulletproof vests, firearm magazines, and gas masks. Investigators believe that in three of these incidents, Davis worked with two co-conspirators. Charges currently include:
- 17 counts of felony and misdemeanor Receiving Stolen Property
- 16 counts of felony and misdemeanor Theft by Unlawful Taking
- 14 counts of Theft from Motor Vehicle (M1)
- Two counts of VUFA 6105 (F1)
- Related Robbery (F1) and Conspiracy (F1) charges
The defendant is also under investigation in other jurisdictions, including Lower Merion and Montgomery counties, and has a lengthy multi-state criminal history for other offenses dating back to 1995. These crimes include illegal possession of firearms, Burglary, and Forgery. This remains an active investigation. The defendant is currently in custody on $1.25 million bail.
“Thanks to tireless policework, Chaun Davis’ wideranging crime spree is coming to an end,” said DA Krasner. “My office is also taking this case incredibly seriously, as the Gun Violence Task Force and the DAO’s Economic Crimes Division and Carjacking Enforcement Unit are working together on the prosecution of this defendant.
”I also want to thank City Council and Mayor Cherelle Parker for their support of enforcement initiatives such as our Carjacking Enforcement Unit in 2023. This invaluable support from our city partners, simply put, enables our Carjacking Enforcement Unit, Economic Crimes Division, and the Philadelphia Police Department to collaborate and hold career criminals like Mr. Davis accountable.”
“It’s very important for the community to know that the Department is working collaboratively with the DA’s Office and our other partners to ensure that we address ALL crime,” said Commissioner Bethel. “Thanks to the dedicated investigation by 9th District Police officers and detectives, we were able to bring this prolific offender in and now he will face justice. I also want to remind Philadelphians that this is the time of year when we ask you to be very diligent about where you keep items in your cars. Help us with prevention by not leaving valuables unattended.”
CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected]
The images below are provided by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for use by members of the news media.
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.