Tarentum police seek lottery ticket thieves

Thieves made off with hundreds of scratch-off lottery tickets during an overnight burglary at Asay’s News Stand in Tarentum, but they didn’t get any winners.

Owner Kevin Bertocki said two men smashed the glass door at the East Sixth Avenue store about 3:30 a.m. and were inside for less than 15 seconds.

“They jumped over the counter, and they each took a tower of tickets,” Bertocki said.

Two bright spots in an otherwise aggravating situation, Bertocki said, were that no one got hurt and that, once reported to lottery officials, the tickets will be worth nothing.

“I don’t want to say they’re not the brightest bulbs, but they won’t be able to get anything for those tickets,” he said.

Tarentum police are asking the public for help in identifying the two men. Surveillance footage captured from inside the store is posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

“They were masked up, but their clothing has a few identifiable marks that someone might recognize,” Bertocki said.

One of the robber’s pants had reflective wording down the side and the other had white shoes.

Bertocki was tallying the tickets mid-morning. Fifteen books of tickets with values from $5 to $50 were stolen.

“They easily got hundreds of tickets,” he said.

There was no money in the store, save for some coins.

Bellone’s Glass in Arnold was able to replace the door early, and Asay’s was operating as usual Monday.

It is the second time in less than five months that the store has been targeted.

In August, a pair of Tarentum sisters and one of their boyfriends staged an afternoon robbery and got away with about $1,000.

“It just doesn’t stop,” Bertocki said.

Police are asking residents who live near East Seventh and East Eighth streets to check their security camera for footage from early Monday. They believe the thieves fled toward that area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Mark Glogowski at 724-224-1515 or 412-473-3056.