Harmar police say surveillance photo used to track down man accused of thefts from Target

Harmar police accused a man of stealing more than $1,500 from the Target store in the township after images from surveillance video were used to find a match with a booking photo from a previous arrest, according to investigators.

Jonathan Lee Neal, 22, of the 500 block of South Trenton Avenue in Wilkinsburg was charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property, robbery and retail theft along with harassment in connection with five thefts from the store between Dec. 21 and Feb. 15.

Neal was released on a nonmonetary bond and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Sosovicka on June 5.

On Feb. 21, an asset protection officer from the store reported to police that a man stole items on five occasions by placing them in a reusable Target bag and walking out without paying, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said store security told them the same man seen walking out of the Harmar Target was stopped while trying to steal from another Target store. The man identified himself with a different name but used the same birthdate as Neal.

Police said they were able to tie Neal to the five thefts from Target by sending images from story security video to the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center, which identified the man as Neal and provided investigators with booking photos from previous arrests, the complaint said.

In each of the five thefts for which Neal is accused, less than $350 worth of merchandise was taken, police said. The total value of the stolen items was $1,597, they said.

Authorities said Neal stole three cellphones and a pair of pants on Dec. 2; three cellphones on Jan. 4; three cellphones on Jan. 12; three Xbox controllers, a gaming headset and two Amazon streaming products on Feb. 13; and four Xbox controllers on Feb. 15.

During the last incident, police said, a security officer tried to stop Neal, but he pushed the officer out of the way and ran from the store, which resulted in the felony robbery charge.

In August, Neal pleaded guilty to defiant trespass and disorderly conduct charges filed by City of Pittsburgh police in April 2022, according to court records. He was sentenced to two to 24 months in jail.

On Feb. 24, Neal was charged with misdemeanor retail theft by Pittsburgh police. A preliminary hearing for that case is scheduled for June 6.