Giant Eagle Manager Nabs 'Gangster Squad' Thief, Police Say

Caste Village Giant Eagle Manager Phillip Scott did his best John O'Mara impression on May 1, helping to nab his fourth would-be thief since November 2012, according to Whitehall Borough police Deputy Chief Richard M. Danko.

At around 12:19 p.m. that day, Whitehall police received a call from the store reporting the apprehension of a shoplifter, Danko said.

Upon investigation, police learned that Carly Sarasnick, 33, of 636 Judith Dr. in Baldwin Borough, was stopped by Scott as she tried to leave the store without paying for three videodiscs in her possession, including—coincidentally enough—a copy of the 2013 movie Gangster Squad starring Sean Penn as notorious thief Mickey Cohen. Josh Brolin plays Sgt. O'Mara of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The thefts would have totaled $96.27, Danko said. Sarasnick was arrested and charged with retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.

On Nov. 30, Whitehall police arrested a 45-year-old Brentwood Borough woman after Scott said that he noticed the woman bypassing store registers with over $200 in merchandise and headed her off near the exit.

On Nov. 7, Whitehall police arrested a 41-year-old Pittsburgh woman after Scott confronted the woman just outside of the store's exit doors trying to leave Caste Village property with a shopping cart full of items that she didn't pay for, Whitehall police Chief Donald R. Dolfi said.

And on Nov. 3, according to Dolfi, Whitehall police arrested a 37-year-old Pittsburgh man after he ran away with stolen goods from the same Giant Eagle after an altercation with the store's manager.

"He (Scott) has an eye for it I guess," Danko said.

Read through other Whitehall police items here.

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