City man caught behind the wheel of a stolen car without valid license

MANCHESTER, NH – Matthew Gerlach, 39, of Manchester, is charged with receiving stolen property and driving without a license due to his habitual offender status, after police allegedly caught him Nov. 5 in the act driving a stolen car.

Detectives Mark Harrington and Rick Valenti of the Special Enforcement Division-Street Crime Unit were patrolling in the area of Spruce and Pine streets on November 5 at around 6 p.m. when they spotted 2004 Toyota Camry which had been reported stolen from Concord on October 26, 2014.

They observed a man get into the vehicle and followed the Toyota, making contact with the driver, later identified as Gerlach, at the Union Street Cumberland Farms.

A subsequent license check revealed Gerlach did not have a valid license and had been deemed a habitual offender, and was charged with both receiving stolen property and driving without a valid license. He was due to be arraigned Thursday.