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Police apprehend man 15 minutes after theft
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Demario Patterson's hands were fast enough to steal $239.65 from a Carnegie pizza shop cash register but his legs weren't fast enough to elude police.
After receiving calls about the theft from Sunset Pizza Grille on East Mall Plaza on Friday, police fanned out along the East Mall Plaza and Carnegie Officer Larry Gump, who was working in plain clothes, searched the wooded hillside on Elk Avenue and spotted the suspect.
Mr. Patterson, 19, of Pittsburgh was apprehended. Police said he had the Sunset Pizza money on him as well as a candy donation box that had been stolen from Portofino's Pizza and Pasta on East Main Street.
The time from the reported theft to apprehension was 15 minutes.
"I do think our guys did a great job," said Carnegie Sgt. Jeffrey Kennedy.
"To figure out where [the thief] was going was good police work."
Carnegie mayor Jack Kobistek also was pleased.
"I thought it was an excellent response by our department," the mayor said. "It goes to show that many of the individuals in our department have familiarity with our surroundings."
The store owner, who was out of town when the incident occurred, was so pleased that he emailed his appreciation to police.
The stolen money and the candy donation box were returned to their owners.
Sgt. Kennedy said though Mr. Patterson had managed to reach over the counter and into the cash register at Sunset Pizza, he was seen by at least one store employee.
Police charged Mr. Patterson with criminal trespass, resisting arrest, theft by unlawful taking, and disorderly conduct.
He faces a preliminary hearing today before District Magistrate Dennis Joyce of Crafton.
First Published August 2, 2012 5:28 am
