Man wanted in Mon Valley Country Club burglary
A Westmoreland County man is wanted by police in Carroll Township in connection with a burglary last month at Mon Valley Country Club.
Police identified the suspect as Francis Edward Werner of Blairsville after he left a long trail of video surveillance images of himself at stores in the Washington area while using a credit card stolen from the club during the July 22 break-in, court records allege.
His family members and a Richeyville roommate who works at the club identified Werner from the images that were printed in local newspapers and posted on social media, police stated in the affidavit.
Werner is accused of forcing open several doors at the club at 1188 Country Club Road and also stealing cash, alcohol and a desk safe, police said.
The stolen credit card was used or attempted to be used 14 times July 22 and 23 at stores, including some in McKeesport and North Versailles. The purchases totaled $1,275, police stated in court records.
Someone at the club also managed to take down the license plate of the vehicle Werner was driving, which belonged to his mother.
His mother told police she hadn’t seen her son for a month and she didn’t give him permission to drive her vehicle.
Police contacted his brother Shawn, and he said his brother was in Morgantown, W.Va. He said his brother confessed to the burglary to him, saying he needed money for cigarettes, court records allege.
The club employee, Nicholas Carr, told police Werner had been staying “off and on” with him for about a month.
He said Werner picked him up after work July 22 and they went to Carr’s residence. Carr also said Werner was gone when he awoke the next day and he had no knowledge of the man’s plans to break into the club.
District Judge Mark Wilson signed a warrant Thursday for the arrest of Werner on charges of burglary, trespassing, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and access device fraud.