Police warning residents in multiple local communities about repeated car break-ins

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Police in three communities are warning drivers to lock their doors. Multiple overnight thefts in Upper St. Clair, Bridgeville and Bethel Park have neighbors on high alert.

“We had no idea. We were asleep.”

Keith and Shari Leckenby were startled when they received an early morning wake-up call.

“We got a knock at the door at about 4 in the morning from the Upper St. Clair Police. They actually identified my car as being stolen,” Keith Leckenby said.

The car had been parked behind the couple’s home on Lambeth Drive.

“The fact that they were able to get it out without us knowing and without hitting any other car was amazing,” Shari Leckenby said, adding there are typically six cars in the driveway blocking the stolen Lexus.

Two other vehicles were taken overnight, one in Bridgeville and one in Bethel Park. Both were unlocked. Police believe the incidents are related.

Bridgeville Police released photos on Facebook Thursday evening showing multiple people checking for unlocked cars. Police say video gathered from residents shows up to six people are involved.

In Upper St. Clair, one neighbor with a camera had no luck catching the car thieves.

“Camera didn’t pick up anything, but I will tell you, I’ll lock my car from now on,” neighbor Kristen Kittel said.

The Leckenbys’ car was recovered, found running in Beechview.

“I had golf clubs, wallets, all kinds of things in the vehicle. I’m very anxious to see what was left in the vehicle,” Keith said. “You do feel like somebody really took advantage of you, targeting your neighborhood or your valuables. You can only imagine what type of person would do that and why they would do that.”

Keith says police told him the car did suffer some damage from what appeared to be a minor crash.

If you have any information, police in all three communities ask you contact them and remind everyone to lock their doors.

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