By Liz Hayes

Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012, 12:21 a.m.
Updated: Thursday, December 13, 2012

A photo snapped by an observant resident helped police apprehend a burglary suspect within hours on Wednesday, police said.

Indiana Township police arrested Robert Heigley, 21, at his home in Richland Township about 9:20 p.m., Detective Steve Colucci said.

Heigley is accused of burglarizing a home about 2 p.m. on Hodil Terrace, across Dorseyville Road from Fairview Elementary School.

When police arrived, the man fled behind a house and into the woods near the school. Police searched the area for about 2 1 ⁄ 2 hours Wednesday but did not find the burglar.

The district was immediately alerted as a precaution, Colucci said.

Fairview Elementary in Indiana Township and Kerr Elementary in O'Hara were locked down about 2:15 p.m. when police notified the district of the search, said Bonnie Berzonski, spokeswoman for the Fox Chapel Area School District. The suspect never was inside either school, Berzonski said.

Student dismissal began at 3:30 p.m. as usual, although the district took “extra precautions,” Berzonski said. Officers reportedly stood watch on school groun ds.

Colucci said Heigley appeared to have forced his way into one house on Hodil Terrace and was attempting to break into another when police arrived.

Colucci said the photo of Heigley “solved the case.”

“We got a call from some other officers who saw the news, plus we sent it out to all the departments,” he said. “We had officers waiting for him to return to his house, and when he arrived he was taken into custody.”

Colucci said Heigley will be charged with one count each of burglary and attempted burglary and two counts each of theft and receiving stolen property. He was to be lodged in the Allegheny County Jail.

Liz Hayes is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-226-4680 or lhayes@tribweb.com. Jodi Weigand contributed. She can be reached at 724-226-4702 or jweigand@tribweb.com.

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