Police probe vehicle thefts in multiple Allegheny County communities

Police on Friday arrested three Pittsburgh teens in connection with the theft of a pickup truck in Franklin Park, the latest episode in what appears to be a recent rash of auto thefts and car break-ins throughout Allegheny County.

Shaler police said they arrested Jameea Matthews, 18, of South Side and two boys, ages 15 and 16, after spotting a stolen pickup driving north on William Flynn Highway, or Route 8, near Burchfield Road around 1:35 a.m.

A fourth person, believed to be a juvenile boy, ran from the vehicle, police said. Officers deployed police dogs and a drone but were unable to find him.

Authorities believe the teens, all of whom were wearing black when arrested, “were in Shaler Township to enter unlocked vehicles and steal from our residents,” Shaler police Chief J. Sean Frank said.

At least two cars were stolen around 4 a.m. Thursday in Franklin Park, police there said. There were no broken windows, and the vehicles that were stolen had keys left in them.

Shaler police recovered both vehicles, Franklin Park police Chief Aron Leach said Friday in a prepared statement.

Leach did not specify if the car Shaler police stopped Friday was one of those vehicles. Leach did not return calls seeking comment.

“Our investigation remains ongoing as we work to gather additional information about the suspects and any other related incidents,” Leach said in a statement.

In O’Hara, at least 10 vehicles were broken into on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5, police there said. A string of vehicle break-ins also were reported July 30 in Plum and Oakmont.

Plum police would not comment Friday when asked whether the thefts were connected.

“Ours are under investigation,” Plum police Detective Joseph Little said. “We would always advise people to lock their doors, be vigilant and call 911 if they see something.”

Frank, the Shaler police chief, also said it’s unclear if the three suspects arrested Friday might have been involved in other thefts.

But, Frank said, there’s a growing trend of teenagers, often from Pittsburgh, breaking into cars or stealing items from unlocked vehicles throughout Allegheny County.

“They’re hitting all over the place,” Frank told TribLive. “They’re in a different community every night.”

Court paperwork was not available Friday morning in the overnight arrests in Shaler.

Frank said it is difficult to put a number on how many times these thefts have occurred.

“It’s multiple times, multiple communities,” he said. “It’s been going on for a while.”

Police from Pittsburgh, O’Hara, Oakmont and Franklin Park did not respond Friday to phone calls seeking comment.