Nov 7, 2016 2 min read

North Strabane Township police said that about a half-dozen unlocked vehicles parked in the Majestic Hills neighborhood were entered early Friday and items were reported stolen.

Officer Gary Scherer said that it appears the thief targeted the unlocked vehicles. The thief was caught on a surveillance camera outside one of the homes pulling on a door handle and then walking away when the door could not be opened, Scherer said.

The thief took gift cards and cash, going through purses that had been left inside the vehicles, but leaving behind the purses, the officer added.

“He even went into one vehicle that was parked inside a garage where the door had been left open,” Scherer said.

He advised that residents should keep vehicle doors locked and remove valuables. The only description of the thief is that he appears to be a thin man. Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to call Scherer at 724-745-8474, extension 262.

Two people accused of stealing items from vehicles in another North Strabane neighborhood had their day in court Monday. Christopher Martin Cox, 37, of 285 King Air Circle, South Franklin Township, waived charges of receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night during a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller. Sharlene Marie Schultz, 25, also of 285 King Air Circle, waived a charge of loitering and prowling at night while a charge of receiving stolen property was withdrawn.

Police were called to the Glencannon housing development in the early morning hours of Oct. 17 for a report of a woman knocking on the door of a residence. Police found the pair on Old Meadow Court. Two backpacks were found in their car containing items police believed to be stolen from vehicles about a block away.

Both are free on $5,000 bond. They are scheduled to be formally arraigned on Jan. 27.