Three Reading men made a costly pit stop early today after they allegedly stole a woman's car in Lancaster, police report.

About a half hour after the Honda Civic was reported stolen from the 300 block of South Queen Street, the men stopped to get gas at the A-Plus store, 1204 Lititz Pike, which is just north of the city, Manheim Township police said.

The men were in two cars, one of which was the reported stolen Honda, police said.  The description and license number of  the car  had been broadcast, and Manheim Township police Officer Lee Billiter spotted it at the pumps shortly before 4 a.m.

Police arrested the three men, who are 19, 23, and 27 and from Reading. They were being questioned this morning, and  could  face charges of receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy, and perhaps possessing instruments of crime,  police said.

In a separate investigation, Manheim Township police said Moises Sanchez Lugo, 25, of 514 Green St., is a suspect in recent shoplifting incidents including one that happened early Wednesday morning at the Turkey Hill Minit Market on  Harrisburg  Pike near Race Avenue.

Lugo allegedly stole a $44.45 carton of cigarettes from the store. A Lancaster City police officer happened to be in the area, and Lugo fled in a vehicle when the officer approached him.

Police pursued the vehicle on Prince Street before stopping it near South Queen and Chesapeake streets at around 4 a.m.

In other police investigations:

• A 16-year-old Columbia boy has been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking another boy on a school bus a week ago, West Hempfield Township police report.

The incident happened at about 3 p.m. Oct. 16 in the 3400 block of Marietta Avenue, police said.

From the investigation, which lasted several days, Officer Karl Hartranft learned that the 16-year-old thought a 15-year-old Columbia boy insulted him while they were on the bus.

"The suspect (16-year-old) grabbed the victim and choked him until he was almost unconscious," a police press report said.

The victim also received cut marks from the suspect's fingernails digging into him, police said.

• Thieves have been active in the  600 block of South Cedar Street in Lititz, borough police report.

Two residents  of the block, which is  east of Route 501, had unlocked vehicles entered Friday night, and another resident reported an attempted burglary.

A small amount of loose change was stolen from one of the vehicles. Someone tried to enter the home by cutting a  screen in a storm window, police said.


Staff writer John M. Hoober III can be reached at jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027.