Man facing charges after cops find him asleep in stolen U-Haul from Horsham with woman inside: police say
Upper Dublin police arrested a man early Monday after officers discovered he was sleeping in a U-Haul truck reported stolen from Horsham Township, according to police.
According to court documents, an Upper Dublin Township police officer was on routine patrol around 2:13 a.m. on May 12 in the parking lot in the 600 block of Loch Alsh Avenue in the Sheeleigh Park neighborhood when he noticed a small U-Haul box truck parked with its headlights and taillights on.
The officer approached the vehicle and found two people asleep inside. Police identified the driver as Nicholas J. Benz, 50 (no known address) and a female passenger.
Investigators said Benz was slumped over from the driver’s seat onto the female’s lap. Officers also observed an empty alcohol bottle inside the cab.
After running the truck’s Arizona registration through Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch, police learned the vehicle had been entered into law enforcement databases as stolen from Horsham Township.
Additional officers responded to the scene and conducted what police described as a felony traffic stop. Despite repeated attempts to wake the occupants using loudspeaker announcements, emergency lights and sirens, both remained asleep until officers approached the truck directly.
Police confirmed with the Horsham Township Police Department that the U-Haul had been reported stolen on May 11 after it was not returned on May 5. Court documents state that Benz was listed as the person responsible for renting the truck.
According to the affidavit, Benz told officers that the female was not involved and bore no responsibility for the vehicle.
Benz was taken into custody at approximately 2:58 a.m. and is facing charges related to the alleged theft of the rental truck. He is now facing a felony charge of Receiving Stolen Property.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Douglas H. Lavenberg.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
