Pocono News Section

Police Name Suspect in Mall Kidnapping

Police Name Suspect in Mall Kidnapping - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:00PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 06:00pm EST
Monroe Township, Snyder County-

State police are still looking for the man they say kidnapped and robbed two women at a mall in central Pennsylvania Monday night.

Shoppers at the Susquehanna Valley Mall near Selinsgrove were surprised to hear about a kidnapping and robbery in broad daylight.

Donna Mareska, of Freeburg, said, “It’s just scary, you know? What’s this world coming to?”

Police say two women, ages 18 and 53, were accosted as they left the mall around 5 o’clock Monday night.

According to police, the suspect followed behind his two victims, waiting for them to unlock their doors. At that point he jumped in the car behind them, holding them at knifepoint, and demanding money.

The women were forced to withdraw cash from an ATM, then drive to Northumberland, where the suspect jumped out of the car and ran.

Donna Mareska’s daughter works at the mall.

She noted, “The first thing I thought was to buy my daughter some mace so she had it in her car or in her purse with her.”

Police suggest never shopping alone, carrying only small amounts of money, and always being fully aware of your surroundings. They say you can never be too careful.

Mareska explained, “Park closer, you know, under the lights, (get) a security guard to walk out with her.”

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen their suspect, Charles Robert Gordner.

He’s a 28-year-old white male, 5’7”, last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue and white New York Yankees baseball cap.

We're told Gordner has ties to Danville and New Jersey.

Meanwhile shoppers say they’ll be paying extra attention in the future. Mareska added, “Safety first I guess always. You never know. You think it’s not in your backyard and it is. It’s everywhere.”

If you have any information about that robbery, you’re asked to call State Police at Selinsgrove.