During this time, police suspect Phillips is related to several break-ins at hunting cabins in Erie, Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. A pickup truck stolen in Allegany County ends up in Ohio where another vehicle is stolen, and authorities suspect Phillips is involved. Phillips is allegedly spotted by residents in the areas around Sinclairville, Stockton, Randolph, and Great Valley, New York, as well as Bradford, Pennsylvania. Police speculate that Phillips' relatives are staging crimes to distract them and throw them off his trail.