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Police charge 11 in string of thefts in Peters Twp.
Township Patrolman Matthew Collins stopped a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy from South Park at 3:35 a.m. Aug. 19 on McCombs Road. Collins found several items in the vehicle that were later determined to have been stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked at a home on Singletree Drive, said police Chief Harry Fruecht.
The stop led to the arrest of a passenger, Jonathan Frings, 19, of 117 Breezewood Drive, Venetia. Frings was charged with theft from a vehicle, selling or furnishing alcohol to minors, underage drinking, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at night and theft. He was arraigned and placed in Washington County Jail.
Juvenile allegations were filed against the 17-year-old driver for DUI, underage drinking, furnishing alcohol to minors, two counts of theft from a vehicle, three counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of loitering and prowling at night, Fruecht said.
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Soon after the traffic stop, Fruecht said, Patrolman Jay Griffith received a telephone call from a father stating he believed his son had possession of stolen property. More than 30 hours of investigation by Detective Bryan Barbour resulted in the arrest of two more adults and seven more juveniles.
Also charged were Benjamin M. Kennell, 18, of 200 Sienna Trail, Eighty Four, and Jose M. Ortega, 18, of 670 Venetia Road, Venetia.
Kennell was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night, while Ortega was charged with receiving stolen property.
Juvenile allegations were filed against:
• A 15-year-old Peters Township boy, charged with a total of 41 counts, including 12 counts each of theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night and five counts of theft.
• A 16-year-old Peters Township boy, charged with 11 counts each of theft from a vehicle, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night.
• A 15-year-old Canonsburg boy, charged with two counts of theft from a vehicle, three counts each of receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night and one count of theft.
• A 14-year-old Peters Township boy, charged with two counts of theft from a vehicle, three counts each of receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night and one count of theft.
• A 17-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys, all from Peters Township, charged with one count each of receiving stolen property.
The thefts were reported in all parts of the township. Those charged worked in two different groups.
"Some knew about the others, but it's difficult to say how intertwined they may have been," Fruecht said.
Items stolen included global positioning systems, a laptop computer, a collectible coin collection, cash, knives, purses, satellite radios, a Penguins jersey and other items.
In one case, a garage door opener in an unlocked vehicle was used to enter a garage, from which beer was stolen.
"They took anything they thought had value or they wanted or thought they could sell," Fruecht said.
In addition to the reported missing items, police have numerous other articles that have not been reported stolen, Fruecht said. Anyone who has a missing item that was not reported as stolen from a vehicle is asked to call 911 to file a report.
Fruecht stressed the need to place valuables out of sight and to lock vehicles left outside.
"They indicated they only went into vehicles that were left unlocked, as they didn't want to take the time to enter a vehicle or set off a car alarm," Fruecht said.
Bad Parenting at Its Finest : 9/2/2009
Once again innocent people suffer because of the many bad parents that exist nowadays. For these kids' parents to be completely oblivious to what was going on in unacceptable and the parents should be punished as well. When I was 14 I would have never thought about doing what these kids did, but then again I was raised with morals and values. Bad parenting needs to be a punishable offense and the parent's names need to be listed in this article as well.
Burglaries : 9/2/2009
Good job and a big thank you to the Police in Peters Twp. for the apprenhension of the theives. The police did their part in these burglaries, NOW it's time for the peolple to do their jobs and use common sense to heklp prevent any more thefts. DO NOT LEAVE valuables, in plain sight and LOCK YOR DOORS.
Parenting : 9/2/2009
At least one of the parents in the story was doing their job. C'mon people - if you can't parent, at least sterilze yourself.
Juveniles : 9/2/2009
I see no reason for not posting the names of juveniles. Get them used to it early maybe they will think twice about their actions.
burglaries : 9/2/2009
good job to the police and the father of the boy in possession of stolen items. too many parents would have swept it under the rug. i hope this will be a lesson to the boy and he will realize that his father was doing the right thing.
String of thefts : 9/3/2009
Great job by the Peters Township Police Department in the apprehension of all involved with stolen property. This is just one problem with the youths in this community and surrounding others. Now I would recommend we pursue the illegal drug use and sale in Peters and these surrounding communites of the youth by the police.
Thefts : 9/3/2009
Way to go PT police! I see nothing wrong with posting any of the names. Kids are smart, they realize nothing will happen to them if they are under 18. They need a deterrent when parents can not see, or ignore what is happening. I agree it is time to work on the drugs and plethora of underage drinking in the area.
Thefts : 9/10/2009
I have to salute the father who called the police on his son. That had to be one of the hardest things in the world to do. But his son will thank him someday. Not today. But someday. Sir, I commend you. More parents should be like you. Thank you.
