Police investigating multiple vehicle break-ins in North Park

NORTH PARK — Police are looking for three suspects after several vehicle break-ins were reported in North Park last week, and stolen credit cards were used at a local store.

Two of the suspects were seen using the stolen cards at Target after the break-ins. The first of the two women was described as having black hair and wore a white ball cap, blue surgical mask, black long-sleeved jacket, blue and white horizontal striped shirt, black shorts, black purse and white and black shoes. The second woman had black hair and wore a reddish ball cap, blue surgical mask, black t-shirt with white lettering, black stretch pants, and black and white shoes. She was seen holding two Target bags.

A man was also with them and was described as having a patchy beard. He was seen driving the vehicle. Police said the vehicle used by the suspects was a rental that was obtained using a fake Arizona driver’s license. It has since been turned in and re-rented.

Most of the purchases made by the suspects were prepaid Visa cards.

All three break-in incidents occurred on July 8, with the first at the North Park Pool parking lot. While the vehicle owner was jogging, several credit cars and $80 in cash were stolen from his locked vehicle and locked glove box. The cards were then used at the Gibsonia Target to make purchases totaling $3,112 before the cards were frozen. The victim only became aware of the theft after receiving fraud alerts from his bank.

The second incident occurred at the off-leash dog park on Walters Road where the driver’s door lock was tampered with to gain entry. The victim’s daughter was in possession of the cards/vehicle at the time of the theft. Again, the victim was alerted by his bank companies about the fraudulent use. There were four attempts at using the cards at the Gibsonia target — two of these attempts were successful in making purchases of just over $2,000.

The third theft was a female victim who had left her car unlocked at the Spillway Parking Lot on Babcock Boulevard at Pearce Mill Road. While taking a paddle board lesson, the victim received a notification that her card was used for a $1,046 purchase at the Gibsonia Target. When she returned to her vehicle, she discovered that her debit card and $150 in cash had been stolen.

“It was clearly a professional job they were very methodical,” Allegheny County Police Lt. Scott Scherer said. “They have a look out and when they see the people exit their car they know they are not going to be back for a half hour, 45 mins because they are going for a jog.”

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