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Husband Traps Would-Be Thief While Wife Calls 911

Incident happened early on Sunday morning along Brownsville Road in Whitehall.

 

Score one for the everyday man, as a Whitehall Borough resident on Sunday was able to trap a would-be thief in his vehicle along Brownsville Road while his wife called 911.

Whitehall police Chief Donald R. Dolfi said that the incident occurred just after midnight in a driveway in Brownsville's 4500 block.

A woman called police to say that a man had illegally entered her family's vehicle and that her husband was pressing against a door of the vehicle in order to trap him inside.

Police officers arrived at the scene approximately 30 seconds after the call was made, Dolfi said. When they got there, they took over for the husband.

Officers removed Matthew Donald Dwyer, 22, of 1218 Rossner Ave. in Duquesne, PA, from the vehicle, arrested him, and charged him with attempted theft from a vehicle and loitering or prowling at night.

The officers took Dwyer to the Allegheny County Jail, where he is awaiting arraignment and processing.

Later on Sunday, at around 1:30 p.m., a resident from Brownsville's 4600 block called police to report that a GPS unit and some loose change had been stolen from her vehicle.

That resident's vehicle, which was believed to have been left unlocked, was parked in a driveway at her Brownsville home on Saturday. The resident discovered the missing items at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Dolfi said that police are investigating the theft.

"Obviously, we will be having discussions with Mr. Dwyer since this was reported after the fact," Dolfi said.

As of publish time, police have not charged Dwyer in connection to the 4600 block incident.

(UPDATE: Dwyer has been charged with attempted theft from a vehicle and loitering or prowling at night.)

Read through other Whitehall police items here.

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Related Topics: Attempted Theft, Brownsville Road, Donald R. Dolfi, Duquesne, Matthew Donald Dwyer, Whitehall Borough, Whitehall Police Department, allegheny county jail, and prowling

Margaret French

3:24 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

to the guy on Brownsville who trapped the guy in the car..if you read this- Way to go! I love it! Good job!

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Sasafras Jackson

4:56 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Thank you Margaret. I will tell him.....it was Uncle Helix!.....haha...lol....I am being facieses.

This is truly an act of bravery that must be recognized. This takes such courage in the face of despair. I applaud this man.

Uncle Helix is as gentle as a school child and I am certain that he would have been in a less than successful in suppressing this man.

“Did you ever know that you're my hero and everything I'd like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle but you are the wind beneath my wings”
- Willie Nelson circa 1978

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Susan Rose

10:38 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Thanks for catching him. I wonder what made him stray into our neighborhood
Glad he did not just jump out useing another door.

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Erin

1:59 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

This is Erin my husband Kevin is who caught this kid I can't believe it still that he heard him. The kid had already destroyed our other car going through it I just thank god the kid didn't have a gun. U know the funny punch to this is he was wearing his Oscar the grouch boxers during all of this. We definatly sleep safe in our house with him in it I am so proud of him!

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Robert Edward Healy, III

6:18 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

Erin, thanks for sharing that story! You have reason to be proud.

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Joey Tomory

7:40 am on Monday, August 6, 2012

This is awesome that Kevin heard him and ran to protect the family and posessions. I'm sure the neighborhood is much safer now. So happy my family has done a good deed.

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Robert Edward Healy, III

10:24 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012

UPDATE: Dwyer has been charged with attempted theft from a vehicle and loitering or prowling at night.

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