Authorities have arrested a suspect for allegedly stealing jewelry and electronics from a Philadelphia City Councilwoman's home and then igniting a blaze to cover up his tracks.
Police charged 23-year-old Edwin Diana of the 2100 block of Palethorpe Street with arson, burglary and other related offenses after he pawned several items that were taken from the West Kensington home of the 7th District City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez hours after the house went up in flames.
Firefighters responded to a blaze on the 2000 block of North Hancock Street around 5:30 a.m. Friday and encountered heavy smoke and flames from the second floor of Quiñones-Sánchez's three-story rowhome. It took crews about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.
An investigation revealed two separate fires were set within the residence to cover up a burglary.
Authorities tracked down Diana after obtaining a photo of items, including jewelry with special engravings, that he had pawned.
The councilwoman identified all of the pawned items as missing from her residence.
Investigators also recovered electronics, which Quiñones-Sánchez also identified, from Diana's home.
Quiñones-Sánchez and her husband, Tomas Sánchez , were not in the property when the incident occurred.
The councilwoman says they were renovating the property, which they purchased ahead of her husband's run for State Senate.
