Five Children Admit to String of Break-Ins: Whitehall Borough Police Briefs (May 31-June 13)

Five Children Admit to Break-Ins at Whitehall Place Apartments

Five children, aged 7 to 10, admitted to police upon questioning that they were responsible for a string of break-ins at the between June 6 and 10.

According to Whitehall police Deputy Chief Richard M. Danko, police were called on June 6 after someone reported a break-in at an apartment at 1450 Maple Drive that is used by the South Hills Interfaith Ministries for a preschool program. Nothing was reported missing, though.

On June 9, police were called to the same apartment building on Maple after receiving a report that someone had entered by breaking a glass window. Although nothing was stolen, the preschool program's toys had been played with, Danko said.

Then, on June 10, police were called again after a break-in at a vacant apartment on Skyline Drive. Police found garbage strewn through the apartment and chocolate milk splattered on the wall, Danko said.

When officers began investigating, they came up with the names of five children who were believed to be responsible for the break-ins. Upon questioning, the children admitted to breaking into the vacant apartment on Skyline as well as the ones on Maple, Danko said.

Fire Starts in Basement of Home

Whitehall police and four fire companies responded to a house fire at 5200 Baptist Road at 12:54 a.m. on June 10 after a neighbor reported smoke pouring out of the garage.

The home was occupied by an 82-year-old woman. Firefighters from Castle Shannon Borough, , Pleasant Hills Borough and were able to extinguish the fire.

Danko said that there is no estimate of damage but that the fire originated in the basement. No injuries were reported.

Criminal Mischief Reported at Whitehall Place

A property manager called the  on June 10 to report criminal mischief at 1690 Parkline Drive in the Whitehall Place Apartments complex. According to Danko, someone put out the pilot light in the boiler room and opened the Comcast and Verizon panel boxes.

Vehicle Stolen from Caste Village

A man called Whitehall police at 8:30 p.m. on June 10 after reporting that his car went missing from the  parking lot while he was working out for an hour at .

Danko said that the vehicle was registered with the National Crime Information Center but has not been recovered as of Tuesday, June 14.

Woman Charged with Public Intoxication

Michele Diane Speca, 28, of 155 Kathleen Drive in , was charged by police with public intoxication after she passed out in the restaurant on Route 51.

At 3:39 a.m. on June 13, police were called to the restaurant for a report of a woman passed out. Officers found Speca in an intoxicated condition, Danko said.

After being charged, she was released to the custody of her boyfriend.