Etna authorities call for vigilance, ask for cooperation as thieves target unlocked vehicles

Despite the arrest of an Etna man on May 19, borough officials are urging residents to secure their vehicles and valuables as thefts from unlocked vehicles continue in Etna and its surrounding communities.

Thefts were happening as recently as the night of May 19 in other areas, Etna Mayor Robert Tuñon said, declining to identify them.

A group of seven juveniles using a stolen vehicle was recorded trying — and in some cases succeeding — to enter into vehicles in Etna and the surrounding areas the night of May 15 into the morning of May 16. They have not been identified or apprehended, Tuñon said.

Police in Etna and Sharpsburg each charged Keith Douglas Williams II, 36, with theft from a motor vehicle and loitering and prowling at night. He was arrested May 19 and arraigned and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail on $5,000 bail, according to court records.

Etna police charged Williams on May 15 for offenses that day, while Sharpsburg police filed charges May 16 for incidents beginning the night of May 12, according to court records.

Williams has a lengthy criminal history of burglary and vehicle break-ins, with convictions in April 2016, September 2017, December 2020 and January 2021, and was on probation, the police departments said in court filings. Etna police most recently arrested him in January.

In Sharpsburg, police said they were notified close to midnight on May 12 that a man was walking around Fourth Street checking door handles. Before that, an officer had seen a video of a man checking door handles on Third Street and walking away from those that were locked.

The man in the video was described as Black, with a beard and wearing a T-shirt with a distinct logo on the back.

Officers later found a man matching the description at Sixth and Main streets, and identified him as Williams, the complaint states. Police said he admitted checking a few door handles but denied taking anything. Officers warned Williams he would be charged if residents came forward with video showing him breaking into cars.

Two women, from Marys Street and Middle Street, came forward the next morning, the complaint states. Williams was seen in a video trying a car door on Marys Street, and the woman on Middle Street said a purse, gift cards and about $180 was taken from her car.

In court filings, Etna police Chief Tim Rodman said he went to School Street around 12:30 a.m. May 15 for a man checking car doors. A resident showed Rodman a door bell video, from which he was able to identify Williams.

After Rodman asked for help from neighboring departments, a Sharpsburg officer found Williams on Locust Street near Elk Street, where he was arrested, a complaint states.

Etna residents helped in the investigation leading to Williams’ arrest by making reports and providing video, Tuñon said.

In the incident involving the juveniles, video shows six individuals in masks, gloves and dark clothing running ahead of the stolen vehicle. They are seen checking door handles until they find one that is unlocked.

The stolen vehicle was identified and found abandoned far from Etna.

Eight Etna residents made reports in which they said nothing of significant value was stolen. None reported damages to their vehicles, Tuñon said.

“They are targeting unlocked vehicles,” Tuñon said. “The speed at which they’re working is what makes containing this issue difficult. They’re not staying at one vehicle for an extended period of time.”

In addition to securing their vehicles, authorities are advising residents to not keep valuables inside.

“It’s important to know that if they’re not able to steal valuable items, the crime is not worth the effort,” Tuñon said.

To increase the chances of apprehending suspects, Tuñon said authorities are encouraging residents who suspect they have been victimized to file reports promptly. They also are asking residents to submit any video evidence to etnapd@etnaborough.org.

“The residents were instrumental in helping our department identify and ultimately arrest the individual (Williams) in the first incident,” Tuñon said. “They were instrumental in providing information in the second. That’s very important. It’s important that our residents have that relationship with the police department.”