Man arrested on Delaware River after stealing boat near Penn’s Landing, police say

A 31-year-old man armed with a stolen gun is in custody after he allegedly stole a sailboat from a pier near Penn’s Landing and took it two miles down the Delaware River until he was caught, police said.

Roger Pojar, 31, was charged with theft and a firearms violation for the Wednesday evening incident.

Around 6:40 p.m., police were notified that an unoccupied sailboat was taken from a pier just south of the Ben Franklin Bridge, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

The sail was down, but the man, later identified as Pojar, was able to start the engine, Small said.

The police Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard responded and stopped the boat about two miles south near the Walt Whitman Bridge, Small said.

Pojar was apprehended without incident, Small said. When caught, Pojar told police he worked for a “federal agency” and that he was carrying a firearm.

No one was hurt and Pojar did not threaten anyone with the stolen gun, which was fully loaded, Small said.

Steve Mink, owner of Liberty Sailing School, said there was a friendly race being held among members of the Liberty Sailing Club, when they noticed one of their boats departing with a man who was not a member.

Mink said the boat was a J/27, which is 27.5 feet long.

Staff writer Jesse Bunch contributed to this article.