Man charged in Squirrel Hill home invasion and burglary linked to Verona theft

A Pittsburgh man charged in connection to a home invasion and burglary in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood is linked to other crimes in the city and the Alle-Kiski Valley, police say.

Jerry Chambers, 59, was arrested last week by Verona police on theft charges.

This week, Chambers was charged in connection to robbing a home in the 1600 block of Beechwood Boulevard and threatening teenagers on Nov. 29, according to a criminal complaint. Charges against Chambers include theft by unlawful taking, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment.

According to a criminal complaint, Chambers broke into the Squirrel Hill home at around 1:30 p.m. Nov. 29 when a 14- and 15-year old were home alone. The teenagers told police Chambers said he would kill them if they talked to police, the complaint said.

Ring video footage shows Chambers break in through a side door with a crowbar, the complaint said. Items reported stolen include about $19,000 in cash, a student ID card, metal bracelets and a fake Rolex.

City cameras showed Chambers before and after the incident as a passenger in a white GMC pickup truck, the complaint said.

Chambers was denied bail and is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail.

On Nov. 28, according to Verona police a group of men wearing masks — Chambers being one — tried to steal a vehicle’s license plate in Verona. The group left in a GMC pickup truck, according to police.

That same pickup truck was located at the scene of the Cheswick Sheetz on Dec. 1, police say, when a group of four juveniles tried to steal a PNC ATM from the Sheetz. Police believe Chambers was not at that scene.

Verona police arrested Chambers on Dec. 2 when he returned the truck to an Enterprise in Verona. There, he was charged with possessing instruments of crime, dealing with titles and plates for stolen vehicles and attempting to alter, forge or counterfeit documents.

Pittsburgh police wrote in court papers they believe Chambers is a suspect in multiple, current felony cases they are investigating from August to November.