Jan 26, 2018 2 min read

MONONGAHELA – A robbery this week in Monongahela would still be under investigation if there weren’t a string of surveillance cameras operated by businesses in the downtown, the city’s police chief said.

Investigators were able to track the suspect, Michael James Uher, to a convenience store using its camera one minute after he allegedly robbed a Rite Aid Sunday afternoon.

Police Chief Brian Tempest said Uher led the store clerk to believe he had a gun about 4:40 p.m. when he stole $475 from the business at 446 W. Main St.

Tempest said that a minute later, Uher parked the silver 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer that was used in the robbery at the Sheetz at 111 E. Main St., where its license plate was in clear view of that store’s surveillance camera.

Uher went into the store, purchased cigarettes and was recorded there chatting with a police officer in uniform from neighboring Forward Township, Tempest said.

Investigators used other business cameras to follow Uher out of town.

Police claim to have confiscated the clothing that was worn in the robbery Wednesday when they searched Uher’s residence at 159 Ernest Ave. in Fallowfield Township.

Uher later confessed to police he robbed the Rite Aid because he is addicted to heroin and used some of the stolen money that day to purchase drugs, court records allege.

Uher, 37, is charged by Monongahela police with robbery, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, theft, simple assault and criminal mischief.

He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Traci L. McDonald.