Whitehall Policeman Chases Down Burglary Suspect on Foot; Suspect Climbed onto Roof

Suspect in Azalea Drive Burglaries Climbs onto Roof on Grove Road

officer Brett Newbould, who, earlier in 2011, was credited by Deputy Chief Richard M. Danko with , received another pat on the back from Danko on Tuesday.

Danko reported to the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch that Newbould successfully chased down a burglary suspect on foot on Thursday, Nov. 3.

police received a call from the 5000 block of Azalea Drive at approximately 1:58 p.m. on Thursday reporting that a male was sneaking through yards on Azalea and hiding behind bushes there, Danko said.

Because of a previous burglary and another illegal entry in the area—both on Tuesday, Nov. 1—Danko said that police cars "flooded the area."

Eventually, a Whitehall police officer came upon a male at who matched the description given by the initial caller. Danko said that, when the officer approached the male in question, he began to run with Newbould in pursuit.

The male eventually climbed onto a roof in the 5100 block of Grove Road, Danko said, before he was apprehended by Newbould and other officers. He was taken to the Whitehall police station and identified as Jonathan Patrick Plack, 30, of 406 Meeting House Road in South Fayette Township.

Danko said that Plack was wanted by the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office and that, when searched by Whitehall police officers, was found to be in possession of gift cards reported stolen from a home in the 5000 block of Azalea on Nov. 1. He was also wearing a hooded sweatshirt that was stolen from that home, Danko said.

Plack is also believed to be the man who illegally entered a home in the 5000 block of Caste Drive on Nov. 1 before being scared away by a resident there. No items were reported stolen from that Caste home.

Whitehall police are charging Plack with two counts each of burglary, criminal trespass and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to employ it criminally and one count each of resisting arrest, theft and receiving stolen property in connection with all three incidents.

He is in Allegheny County Jail.

UPDATE: The receiving stolen property and trespassing charges were eventually withdrawn, as was one of the instrument of crime charges.

Sugar in Gas Tank

A resident of the 1700 block of Skyline Drive in the called Whitehall police at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 to report that he discovered sugar in his gas tank.

The man said that he only recently moved to the area and that he did not have any enemies. He did not know what the cost of repairs could be, but he has filed an insurance claim.

Danko said that the gas tank incident is the only one of that type recently reported to Whitehall police.

The incident is under investigation.

Identity Theft 

A resident of the 5300 block of Baptist Road notified Whitehall police at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, that her credit card had unknown charges on it.

The woman was advised to put a hold on her account, and her credit card company is issuing her a new card.

This is the same woman who reported to Whitehall police on Oct. 31 that .

Burglary on Old Boston Road

A resident of the 4800 block of Old Boston Road reported to Whitehall police at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Nov. 2 that jewelry was missing from his home.

The victim said that a ring with the letter "D" on it valued at $1,300; a silver Tiffany & Co. braided necklace valued at $120; and a silver Tiffany choker necklace with an unknown value were all missing.

Police did not find signs of forced entry into home, and the incident is under investigation.

Woman Charged with Trying to Steal Donations at Goodwill

A Whitehall police officer on patrol on Route 51 at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 observed a woman removing items from a donation center.

The woman—Angela Elaine Dixon, 25, of 1123 Portsmouth Drive in Port Vue Borough—was charged with theft.

happened at the same Goodwill location on Sept. 25, this year.

Theft at Family Video

Whitehall police responded to call from the on Route 51 at approximately 9:26 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, that an unknown man had walked out of that store with stolen videos and left the area in a gold-colored sedan.

Whitehall police confirmed the theft after watching surveillance video, and the incident is under investigation. The total number of stolen videos and their value have not been determined.