2 arrested in theft of $3K worth of assorted merchandise from Hempfield Lowe's

Two people were arrested by state police after tips from the public helped troopers identify the suspects in a theft of approximately $3,200 worth of merchandise from a Westmoreland County Lowe’s.

Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the suspects were identified as Matthew John Murphy, 38, of Greensburg, and Heather Lynn Kunkle, 36, of Penn. Both were being held at the Westmoreland County Prison.

Police on Tuesday released to the media and public surveillance images of the suspects and requested help to identify them. Murphy and Kunkle were charged Wednesday with felony retail theft.

The pair is accused of entering the Hempfield Lowe’s Oct. 13 and taking two Milwaukee leaf blowers, a Craftsman gas trimmer, two stainless steel submersible well pumps and a 24-inch aluminum pipe wrench.

Two days later, Murphy visited the store again around 10:30 a.m. and took a cast iron sewage sump pump, four battery string trimmers, a pressure washer, a cold water electric pressure washer and two accessory items for a snow blower, police said.

Kunkle’s bail was set at $2,500. Murphy was being held on $25,000 bail. Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings are set for Nov. 28.