WPXI: South Hills Homes Targeted In Burglary Spree (Updated)

Police said a group of homes in Pittsburgh's South Hills have been targeted by thieves.

Investigators said several burglaries have been reported within a 3-mile radius around Bower Hill Road. So far, homes in Upper Saint Clair, Scott and Mount Lebanon have been hit.

"They take what little bit you have and then you don't know if they are going to beat you up or what their gonna do," said Francis Swartzwelder.

Swartzwelder said many homes in her neighborhood have been hit. She said the area is made up of mostly retirees and many fear they'll be next.

Read the full article:

• www.wpxi.com/news/27872390/detail.html (WPXI)

Update 2011-05-17 22:20: A reader has written to Blog-Lebo with a first-hand account of what the reader suspects may be burglary-related activity. —Tom

Mt. Lebanon Burglar Evades Chopper Cops

Police in Mount Lebanon and state police in a helicopter were unable to find a burglar who was interrupted in the act of robbing a Shady Drive home last night and escaped by jumping off a second-story deck.

Officers don't know if the incident is connected to three other residential burglaries in Mount Lebanon last week.

In the latest one, police said a man came home to his apartment in the 700 block of Shady Drive East about 7:10 p.m. Wednesday and caught a glimpse of a man dressed in dark clothing when he opened his door.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10028/1031762-100.stm

Burglaries 'Of Opportunity' Occur At Three Houses In Mt. Lebanon

Police have stepped up their regular patrols and urged residents to keep their doors and windows locked after three Mt. Lebanon homes were entered last week and items taken.

The three reported burglaries all occurred in the Sunset Hills neighborhood.

The first incident was reported Jan. 19, Lt. Aaron Lauth of the Mt. Lebanon Police Department said. Sometime between midnight and 5 a.m., the suspect or suspects entered a house in the 100 block of Sleepy Hollow Road and removed 13 DVDs and an Xbox video game system while the residents slept on the top level of the home.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10028/1031528-55.stm

Helicopter Called In To Search For Mt. Lebanon Burglar

After searching for more than two hours for a burglary suspect, Mt. Lebanon police enlisted the help of Pennsylvania State Police helicopter to search the community, county dispatchers said.

The helicopter, which took to the air around 9:30 p.m. and was seen flying low to the ground, was called off around 10 p.m.

Mt. Lebanon police would not confirm if the suspect had been caught and would not say why the helicopter had been called off, but advised people to keep their doors and windows locked and to stay inside

Read more: www.postgazette.com/pg/10027/1031661-100.stm

Read more: www.thepittsburghchannel.com/allegheny/22360704/detail.html

Mt. Lebanon Investigates Three Burglaries

Three occupied Mt. Lebanon homes were entered last week while the residents slept, according to a news alert posted on the municipality's Web site.

Between Tuesday and Friday, the three homes, on the 100 block of Sleepy Hollow Road, the 300 block of Jonquil Place and the 100 block of Catalpa Place, were entered through unsecured windows or doors and items such as purses and electronics were stolen.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10024/1030828-100.stm

Read more: www.wpxi.com/news/22335408/detail.html

Mt. Lebanon Police Arrest 2 Burglary Suspects

Mt. Lebanon police have arrested two men who they say are involved in at least nine burglaries and several other attempts in the city and nearby communities.

Sandhu Harwinder, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested after police found evidence in their homes and cars tying them to five burglaries and two attempts in Mt. Lebanon, two in Pittsburgh, two in Dormont and one each in Upper St. Clair and South Fayette, police said.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08297/922127-55.stm

Link 2: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_594743.html